BIOTA INITIATES TRIAL OF HUMAN RHINOVIRUS DRUG

Biota Holdings has begun dosing healthy volunteers in a Phase Ib trial for its human rhinovirus drug, BTA798.

BTA798 is an antiviral for the treatment of the common cold virus, known to cause significant clinical complications in sufferers of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Phase Ib trial is an ascending, double-blinded study with oral administration of the drug to 32 healthy volunteers. The primary objective of the trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of BTA798, with a secondary objective to determine the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug over multiple doses. The trial is being conducted in the UK with the approval of the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Independent Ethics Committee.

A Phase Ia trial has already found the drug to be safe and well-tolerated in healthy volunteers.