Viratek Inc. has filed a new drug application (NDA) with the FDA fordrug, Virazole, in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV).Virazole is already approved in the U.S. as a treatment for infants withsevere respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncitial virus.An NDA for the drug as a treatment for hemorrhagic fever with renalsyndrome filed in 1991 is still pending.Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Viratek plans to file NDAs for Virazole in theHCV indications in other countries in the near future. It is alreadyavailable for a variety of antiviral indications in many major marketsworldwide.Encouraging results of clinical trials of the drug in patients with HCVwere presented at the Sixth International Symposium on Viral Hepatitisin Madrid, Spain in February this year.Paraxel Corp. of Boston assisted in the conduct of two Phase III trialsand a third was conducted by the Liver Disease Section of the NationalInstitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. _ PhilippaMaister

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