Incyte’s HIV Drug Reverset in Phase II Trial Shows Potential in Lowering Viral Load When Taken With Other Drugs
Delaware-based biotechnology firm Incyte on Monday said its antiretroviral drug Reverset produced better-than-expected results in a Phase II clinical trial among patients who were not responding to their current treatment, Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal reports. The six-month study involving 199 treatment-experienced patients examined three different dose levels -- 50 milligrams, 100 milligrams and 200 milligrams -- of the once-daily medication taken in combination with other antiretrovirals (Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal, 7/26). Among patients taking the highest dosage, 54% experienced a decrease of more than 90% in their HIV viral load after four months. Among patients who received a placebo with their standard combination therapy, 40% experienced a similar decrease in viral load (Reuters, 7/25). Researchers concluded that the lower doses of the drug were not as effective as the 200-milligram dose. Two study participants who were taking the 100-milligram dose with the FDA-approved antiretrovirals didanosine and tenofovir experienced symptoms of pancreatitis. Researchers said Reverset should not be used with didanosine, which is associated with pancreatitis (Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal, 7/26). Incyte's shares fell 15% after it released the trial results, but the company said it plans to proceed with Phase III trials of the drug later this year (Reuters, 7/25).
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