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A cure for HIV and Hepatitis C is within reach as Australian company Biotron Limited (ASX:BIT) announced successful trial of an antiviral drug that will kill both virus. The company announced that patients who underwent the trial of its antiviral drug BIT225 were cleared of the Hepatitis C 12 weeks after treatment was halted.
Biotron Limited (ASX:BIT) successful trial announced on Oct 10 shows promising result in eradicating the fatal viruses. The company had conducted the trial in Thailand. Eight patients, infected with both the HIV and Hepatitis C virus, were given interferon and ribavirin for seven consecutive days. On the eighth day, they were given Bitron's experimental drug, BIT225. For 28 days, they were asked to take 300mg of BIT225.
Although three of the patients withdrew from the trial after 12 weeks, the five patients who stayed had undetectable levels of viruses around this time. By week 24 and by week 48 when all treatment stopped, the virus level remained undetected. By week 60, following a complete halt of the treatment, all five patients were cleared of the virus. "These SVR12 data support the efficacy of BIT225 as a potential new therapy for HCV and, in particular, for this difficult to treat group of HIV/HCV co-infected patients who typically have more serious HCV infection and fewer treatment options," Biotron Managing Director Dr Michelle Miller said in its statement address to ASX Limited.
Biotron Limited (ASX:BIT) successful trial announced on Oct 10 shows promising result in eradicating the fatal viruses. The company had conducted the trial in Thailand. Eight patients, infected with both the HIV and Hepatitis C virus, were given interferon and ribavirin for seven consecutive days. On the eighth day, they were given Bitron's experimental drug, BIT225. For 28 days, they were asked to take 300mg of BIT225.
Although three of the patients withdrew from the trial after 12 weeks, the five patients who stayed had undetectable levels of viruses around this time. By week 24 and by week 48 when all treatment stopped, the virus level remained undetected. By week 60, following a complete halt of the treatment, all five patients were cleared of the virus. "These SVR12 data support the efficacy of BIT225 as a potential new therapy for HCV and, in particular, for this difficult to treat group of HIV/HCV co-infected patients who typically have more serious HCV infection and fewer treatment options," Biotron Managing Director Dr Michelle Miller said in its statement address to ASX Limited.
