Strong Ph IIa data for OctoPlus' Locteron

Belgian drug delivery and development firm OctoPlus NV has reported positive initial results from an ongoing SELECT-1 Phase IIa study with its lead product Locteron , a controlled-release interferon-alfa, in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus.

In the 12-week Phase IIa study, the combination of the highest dose of Locteron evaluated until now, and the antiviral drug ribavirin, achieved an early virologic response in 100% of treated HCV patients. The study reported an overall strong antiviral response at 12 weeks and an adverse event profile that shows substantial tolerability improvement compared to other interferons, either on the market or in development, the firm claims. OctoPlus is co-developing Locteron with its partner Biolex Therapeutics.

Peter Jansen, head of the AMC Liver Center at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, said that "these results are very encouraging: Locteron's adverse event profile shows potential to significantly improve hepatitis C therapy. The results pave the way for the commencement of the Phase IIb study, in which I am excited to be involved."