Costa Mesa-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said Thursday that second-phase data for an oral anti-viral compound showed positive results in treating hepatitis B.
Valeant is looking at the compound, pradefovir, for its safety and ability in treating a chronic form of the liver disease.
The study has 242 patients enrolled at 21 sites in the U.S., Taiwan, Singapore and Korea. Valeant said half of the patients had been previously treated with other drugs and were considered more difficult to treat.
Valeant Chief Executive Timothy Tyson said the drug maker was encouraged by the decline in the amount of hepatitis B virus that was found in patients’ DNA during the study.
Pivotal third-phase trials for pradefovir are expected to start in mid-2006, Valeant said.
Shares of Valeant were up 2% to $19.34 on Thursday.
