Biota's BTA798 Performs in Phase-IIb Trial for HRV Infection in Asthmatics

Biota is designing phase-III studies after successfully completing a phase-IIb trial with its oral antiviral BTA798 in asthmatics with rhinovirus infection.

Biota, a Melbourne-based anti-infective drug development company, has announced positive data from a recent phase-IIb clinical trial of its oral antiviral BTA798 (vapendavir) in asthmatic patients with human rhinovirus (HRV) infection.

HRV typically causes the common cold, but can cause serous problems leading to hospitalisation in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis.

Phase-IIb trial results show that BTA798 was well tolerated and was associated with a statistically significant reduction in cold symptoms in asthmatic adults, compared with placebo.

A total of 300 patients took part in the trial, whi