Biopharmaceutical Company Immune Response Announces Drug Remune Delayed Virologic Failure in Two Studies
California-based biopharmaceutical company Immune Response on Wednesday announced that its drug Remune effectively delayed virologic failure in HIV-positive patients who were taking other antiretroviral drugs in two European studies, the AP/Business Week reports. In a Phase II study of 39 HIV-positive patients in Spain, individuals taking Remune were less likely than patients taking a placebo to have a viral load higher than 55,000 copies/mL at 48 weeks, according to the AP/Business Week. In a study of 51 HIV-positive patients in Italy, patients given three injections of Remune had stable CD4+ T cell counts through 28 weeks, compared with patients taking a placebo whose CD4+ T cell counts declined. Immune Response said that the studies were intended to "explore the potential utility of the treatment" with Remune rather than to be used to seek regulatory approval, according to the AP/Business Week (AP/Business Week, 3/9). John Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Immune Response, said, "The positive virologic and immunologic trends, along with HIV-specific immune responses we are seeing in patients treated with Remune in both the Italian and Spanish studies, are a powerful signal for us to continue the direction of our Remune clinical program" (Immune Response release, 3/9).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.