- Preliminary Results from a Phase 2 clinical trial, LIMT HDV, evaluating Eiger BioPharmaceuticals' (EIGR -5.5%) pegylated interferon lambda (Lambda) as monotherapy in patients with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection showed a positive treatment effect. The data were presented at The Liver Meeting in Washington, D.C.
- The 33-subject open-label study assessed two doses of Lambda (120 or 180 micrograms) administered via subcutaneous injection every week for 48 weeks.
- About 30% (n=10/33) reached 24 weeks of treatment at data cutoff. 40% (n=4/10) had undetectable HDV by week 24 as measured by PCR. Half (n=5/10) achieved at least a 2 log decline (99% decline) in HDV RNA by week 24.
- Lambda was well-tolerated in the majority of patients through week 24, although there were apparently three cases of jaundice, probably the reason for the downward pressure.
- The company acquired global rights to Orphan Drug- and Fast Track-tagged Lambda from Bristol-Myers Squibb in April 2016.
- HDV is thought to affect up to 20M people worldwide. It is present in ~4 - 6% of HBV carriers.
- Now read: Eiger BioPharmaceuticals (EIGR) Presents At 24th Annual NewsMakers in the Biotech Industry - Slideshow
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