Samaritan Progresses Phase II/III Study of Novel HIV 'Oral' Entry Inhibitor

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, a developer of innovative drugs, has announced it is rapidly progressing with its Phase II/III study of SP-01A, a new kind of pill that, Samaritan believes, blocks the AIDS virus before it ever enters the human cell.

Four sites have been selected to conduct Samaritan's trial for HIV-infected patients experiencing resistance to antiretroviral therapy. In addition, internal review boards responsible for protecting study patients have almost completed their reviews; the principal investigators, the central lab and study monitors are all in place, along with the study director, with all anticipating the start of the study.

Samaritan believes SP-01A cripples HIV's ability to enter cells by blocking the proteins on human T Cells that would otherwise facilitate HIV's entry into those cells.