SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. said that its drug candidate SCV-07 failed to meet its key goal of treating Hepatitis C in a midstage study, prompting a cancellation of the program.
The company said the study was aimed at providing an estimate of whether SCV-07 could be a potential treatment for Hepatitis C, which is a viral condition that damages the liver.
“Although the data showed an interesting biological signal, due to the rapidly changing landscape of effective treatments which increase the complexity and risks of developing drugs in chronic Hepatitis C, we have decided not to continue development in this indication,” said President and CEO Friedhelm Blobel, in a statement.
In March, the drug candidate failed in a midstage study on oral mucositis, which is an inflammation of the digestive tract. It is a common side effect of patients undergoing chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.
The company plans to start another midstage study in 2011 aimed at oral mucositis involving higher doses of the drug candidate.
Date: December 15, 2010
Source: Associated Press
