BayHill's BHT-3009 impresses in MS trial

US biotehnology firm Bayhill Therapeutics says that data from a Phase IIb study of its drug candidate BHT-3009 significantly reduced the occurrence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis patients. The results, which were unveiled at this year's meeting of the American Neurology Association, showed that MS sufferers with high levels of anti-myelin basic protein (MBP) experienced fewer lesions when treated with 0.5mg of the drug compared to those given placebo.

Bayhill said that reductions in T2 volumes and T1 black holes were also seen in the high MBP subgroup, and that a similar trend was observed in the intent-to-treat population. The firm added that it intends to schedule a meeting with the Food and Drug Administration to discuss plans for future registrational trials.