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New
form of treatment for Hepatitis B
A new form of treatment is coming up for Hepatitis B
virus disease. According to WHO approximately 2 billion
people today are infected by hepatitis B. Of these, an
estimated 350 million are chronically infected and at
risk of death from liver disease. Hepatitis B is caused
by a virus that does not destroy liver cells during
infection. The liver damage occurring in some
HBV-infected patients is a result of an undesirable
immune response in the body.
Enzo Biochem had conducted Phase I trails of its drug
EHT899. In clinical trials in which 15 patients were
given EHT899 orally, the medicine significantly
alleviated the disease and related symptoms in 12, or
80%, of the patients. Selected patients responded with a
marked decrease in liver enzymes along with a significant
decrease in viral load.
Enzo Biochem, Inc. has announced that it is commencing
a Phase II clinical trial of its proprietary medicine, EHT899, to treat patients with chronic
hepatitis B virus (HBV). The decision was based on
successful and highly encouraging results of its Phase I
trial.
If further trails show similar results - EHT899 will
be the medicine of choice for treating chronic hepatitis
B virus.
The Phase I trial was
conducted under the direction of Professor Yaron
Ilan, M.D., in collaboration with Enzo
scientists, at the Liver Unit at Hadassah Hebrew
University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel.
Dr. Ilan is also conducting the Phase II studies
at Hadassah Hospital.
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