Shaman Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Friday that it hasbegun a Phase II trial of Provir in 30 children hospitalized forrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Enrollment of children between the ages of 6 months and 2years has begun at two of three centers participating in thetrial. Shaman said this study will be followed by additionalPhase II trials to test the anti-viral in other RSV seasons. Atotal of up to 200 children will be tested in the Phase IIprogram.

In September, Shaman (NASDAQ:SHMN) of South San Francisco,Calif., reported results of a challenge study of Provir in adultswho were experimentally infected with RSV (see BioWorld,Sept. 14). Provir is an oral formulation of SP-303, a compoundderived from a medicinal plant. A topical formulation of thecompound, Virend, is the subject of a Phase II trial in Mexicofor the treatment of herpes. -- Brenda Sandburg

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