Famvir Plus Zadaxin Beneficial In HBV

The combination of SmithKline Beecham's Famvir (famciclovir) andSciClone Pharmaceuticals' Zadaxin (thymosin alpha-1) has shown synergy in the treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus infection.

A Phase II trial in 68 chronic HBV patients who had poor immune responses to the virus, conducted in Hong Kong, showed that six months' treatment with the combination resulted in hepatitis e antigen seroconversion, or the elimination of viral replication, in a clinically significant number of patients.

Of patients on Zadaxin plus Famvir, 9.4% experienced seroconversion to become HBeAg-negative, and this effect was not seen in any of those treated with famciclovir alone or in the untreated control group. No drug-related side effects were observed during the trial. The data were presented at the joint meeting of the International Association for the Study of the Liver and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Chicago, USA.