• Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., reported preliminary data analysis from its Phase II trial in hepatitis C virus indicating that the combination of phosphatidylserine-targeting antibody bavituximab and ribavirin appeared safe and well tolerated, with patients reporting fewer side effects than in the interferon-containing arm. Initial data also indicated that both dose levels of bavituximab (0.3 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg) with ribavirin demonstrated antiviral activity; however, the antiviral effects in patients receiving the 0.3 mg/kg dosing level were more pronounced. A comparison of viral data showed that a high percentage of patients in the interferon arm of the study achieved early virologic response (EVR) between week four and week eight, while the majority of patients in the bavituximab groups achieved EVR at the week 12 end-of-the-study timepoint. More patients achieved EVR in the interferon-containing group by the end of the study, though Peregrine said a longer study likely will be needed to adequately compare the effectiveness of bavituximab and interferon. Full results from the trial are anticipated in 2012.