Strong histology data for B-MS' Baraclude

US drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb says that data from two separate cohort evaluations show that long-term treatment with Baraclude (entecavir) was associated with improved liver histology, including improvement in fibrosis, in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Presented at the 59th annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, in San Francisco, data from a cohort of 57 nucleoside-naive patients from rollover study ETV-901 showed that 96% experienced improvement in liver histology, defined as greater than or equal to a two-point decrease in Knodell necroinflammatory score and no worsening of Knodell fibrosis score.

Additionally, 88% experienced a reduction in liver fibrosis, defined as improvement in Ishak fibrosis score (greater than or equal to a one-point decrease). Fibrosis occurs when excessive fibrous connective tissue builds up in the liver in response to chronic inflammation, which can be caused by chronic hepatitis B infection.