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Biotech / Medical : Indications -- Hepatitis -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: zeta1961 who wrote (63)	4/25/2004 4:11:22 PM
From: zeta1961	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 312

DDW continued... Publishing ID: 410 Abstractid ID: 102006 Combination of PegInterferon Alfa-2b and Lamivudine is Superior to Lamivudine Alone in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection Joseph J. Y. Sung, Henry L. Y. Chan, Alex Y. Hui, Vincent W. S. Wong, Choong-Tsek Liew, Angel M. L. Chim, Francis K. L. Chan, Lawrence C. T. Hung, Yuk-Tong Lee, Nancy W. Y. Leung Background: Treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection is still unsatisfactory and previous studies combining conventional interferon with lamivudine yielded conflicting results. Aim: This prospective randomized study set to evaluate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2b and lamivudine combination for chronic hepatitis B infection. Methods: HBeAg-positive treatment-naive patients were randomized to receive either a combination of 32-week peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5mcg/kg/wk, max 100mcg) and 52-week lamivudine (100mg daily) or 52-week lamivudine (100mg) monotherapy alone. HBV DNA levels (measured by TaqMan real-time PCR assay), HBeAg status, HBV genotype, drug resistant mutant (INNO-LiPA HBV DR line probe assay), serum transaminase levels were monitored. Pre- and post-treatment liver histology (necro-inflammatory score according to Knodell system and fibrosis score according to Ishak system) were compared. The primary endpoint was sustained virological response (HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA <500,000 copies/ml) at 24 weeks after finishing medication. Secondary endpoints include end-of-treatment virological response, reduction in HBV DNA levels, biochemical responses and histologic necro-inflammatory and fibrosis scores. Results: 100 patients were randomized into the 2 treatment groups. Sustained virological response was significantly higher in combination therapy than lamivudine monotherapy (36% vs 14%, p=0.03, adjusted odds ratio=3.74, 95% CI 1.14-12.29). At the end of treatment, patients received combination therapy had a higher rate of virological response (60% vs 28%, p=0.003), had more substantial reduction of log10 HBV DNA (3.91 vs 2.83, p<0.001) and were less likely to have lamivudine resistant mutant (21% vs 40% p=0.045) than those who received lamivudine monotherapy. The median reduction in necro-inflammatory score in the combination group and lamivudine monotherapy group were 2 and 3 respectively (p=0.21). There was no significant change in the median fibrosis score in the two treatment groups. Conclusions: In patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection, combination of peginterferon alfa-2b and lamivudine yielded significantly better results than lamivudine monotherapy.

To: zeta1961 who wrote (63)	4/25/2004 4:27:00 PM
From: zeta1961	Respond to of 312

ISAR abstract titles...International Society for Antiviral Research...In May...New Orleans this one has bio's presenting... Synergistic Inhibition of Replication of BVDV by PG 301029 Used in Combination with Ribavirin or Ribavirin and Interferon. R.W. Buckheit, Jr. and T.L. Brenner. GeneLogic, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.; and University of Arizona College of Pharmacy,Tucson, Ariz., USA. 64. In Vitro Combination Studies of VX-950 (a HCV Protease Inhibitor) or VX-497 (an IMPDH Inhibitor), Two Novel Anti-HCV Clinical Candidates, with IFN-a. K. Lin, C. Lin, and A.D. Kwong. Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.,USA. 65. Clinical Evaluation of a Human Monoclonal Antibody Against the Envelope Protein(E2) of HCV for Prevention of HCV Infection. E. Ilan, A. Zauberman, N. Graham, O. Nussbaum, D. Terkieltaub, E. Galun, N. Terrault, R. Eren, and S. Dagan. XTL Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., Rehovot; Hadassah University Hospital; and University of California at San Francisco, Calif., USA. Oral Session VI: Hepacivirus Infections Chairpersons: Craig Gibbs and Johan Neyts 8:30am Plenary Speaker Stanley Lemon, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex., USA “Impact of Specific Antiviral Therapy on Hepatitis C Virus Suppression of Host Cell Defenses” 9:00 140. HCV NS3 Protease and NS5B Polymerase Inhibitors as Antiviral Agents. P.L. Beaulieu. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada), Ltd., Laval,QuÈbec, 9:15 141. Inhibition of Heptitis C Virus RNA Replication by Benzimidazoles with High Affinity for the 5'-Untranslated Region of the Genomic RNA. E.E. Swayze, P. Seth, E.A. Jefferson, A. Miyaji, S. Osgood, R. Ranken, S. Propp, K. Lowery, and R.H. Griffey. Ibis Therapeutics, Carlsbad, Calif., USA. 9:30 142. Nucleoside Inhibitors of HCV Replication and the Corresponding Nucleoside Triphosphate Inhibitors as Chain Terminators of HCV NS5B Polymerase. L. Lou, C. Hancock, D. Latour, J. Pouliot, C. Roberts, J. Keicher, N. Dyatkina, R.Griffith, U. Schmitz, and E. Michelotti. Genelabs Technologies, Inc., Redwood City, Calif., 9:45 143. In-Vitro and In-Vivo Evaluation of HCV Polymerase Inhibitors as Potential Drug Candidates for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection. E. Ilan, A. Zauberman, S. Aviel, O. Nussbaum, E. Arazi, O. Ben-Moshe, D. Slama, I. Tzionas, Y. Shoshany, S.-W. Lee, J.-J. Han, S.-J. Park, G.-H. Lee, E.-Y. Park, J.-C. Shin, J.-W. Shu, J.-W. Kim, and S. Dagan. XTL Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., Rehovot, Israel; B&C Biopharm; and Myong Ji University, Korea. 10:00 Break(whew!) 10:30 144. Susceptibility of Different Genotypes of Hepatitis C Virus to Inhibition by Nucleoside and Nonnucleoside Inhibitors. S. Carroll, C. Bailey, M. Bosserman, C. Burlein, A. Simcoe, J. Fay, S. Ludmerer, D. Graham, R. LaFemina, O. Flores, D. Hazuda, S. Altamura, G. Migliaccio, L.Tomei, R. De Francesco, V. Summa, and D. Olsen. Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pa., USA; and Instituto Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare, Merck Research Laboratories, Pomezia, Italy. 10:45 145. Comparison of Two Anti-HCV Clinical Candidates, VX-950 and BILN 2061, for Potency and Resistance in the HCV Replicon System and in a Novel HCV Protease Animal Model. K. Lin, C. Lin, G. Kalkeri, S. Almquist, Y.-P. Luong, B.G. Rao, Y. Wei, C.A. Gates, R.B. Perni, and A.D. Kwong. Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., 11:00 146. Gene Expression Patterns During Anti-HCV Treatment with Interferons and Interferon Combinations in the HCV Replicon Model. B. Korba, C. Okuse, and J. Rinaudo. Georgetown University, Rockville, Md., USA.