Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Tuesday got the go-ahead from the Food and Drug Administration to start clinical trials on its Tarvacin drug for chronic hepatitis C infection.
The Tustin-based drug maker said the trial is set to include up to 32 patients who will help determine safe dosages of Tarvacin.
Patients participating in the trial haven’t responded to a combination of Ribavirin plus Pegylated Interferon, which is the standard treatment for the liver disease.
Ribavirin was discovered by Costa Mesa-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, though generic versions now are being sold.
Peregrine cited figures from the World Health Organization showing that about 2.7 million Americans and 170 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus, which is one of the major causes of liver transplants.
Peregrine shares were up about 3% in midday trading on the Nasdaq exchange. The company also has Tarvacin in clinical trials to treat solid cancerous tumors.
