Panacos starts phase 2b bevirimat HIV trial

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., June 12 - Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has started a phase 2b clinical trial of bevirimat (previously designated PA-457) for the treatment of HIV.

"With the benefit of the results of our phase 2a study, we have been able to focus on a dose range that we believe will provide maximum antiviral benefit to patients. In the phase 2b trial, we plan to test these doses of bevirimat in combination with approved HIV drugs as part of an optimized regimen in patients failing treatment due to drug resistance. The goal of this study is to select the most appropriate dose to take into pivotal phase 3 testing," president and chief executive officer Samuel K. Ackerman said in a news release.

In the phase 2b study, HIV-infected patients failing their current antiretroviral therapy will receive oral bevirimat or a placebo once daily for three months in combination with background antiretroviral therapy.

Watertown, Mass.-based Panacos develops anti-infective products through discovery and development of small molecule oral drugs for the treatment of HIV and other major human viral diseases.

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