Australia-listed Benitec Biopharma reported initial success in trials of its "expressed RNAi" drug called TT-034 to treat hepatitis C by reducing its viral load.
Benitec said one of two study participants provided the treatment in the Phase I/II trial showed the desired reduction. The second had yet to be biopsied. The two who received a placebo-like treatment showed no similar reduction.
TT-034 is intended to target liver cells with short hairpin RNAs aimed at three specific parts of the hepatitis C genome. The company said there were no serious adverse effects in any of the patients.
- here's the release