Biota Holdings targeting asthma market with anti-viral drug

Biota Holdingstoday commenced a 400-member trial in the US of its anti-viral drug BTA798 on sufferers of asthma who present with cold symptoms.

BTA798 is an orally administered treatment to fight the human rhinovirus, which is normally associated with the common cold. Asthmatics typically suffer a worsening of their symptoms after contracting a cold and the trial will focus on the effects of BTA798 in addressing these, and will coincide with the late August onset of the peak northern hemisphere flu season, when rhinovirus causes what people often refer to as a 'cold'.

The study, expected to cost $25 million over two years, is a randomised placebo-controlled double blind trial involving some 400 patients across 60 sites throughout the US, with results potentially available as early as mid-next year.

Biota said that data would be collected on the severity and duration of cold symptoms and their impact on patient functioning in parallel with the incidence and severity of asthma symptoms, changes in lung function and duration and intensity of viral shedding from the upper respiratory tract.

Biota said that a number of pharmaceutical companies contributed to the study design, adding that early-stage discussions had confirmed market interest in an asthma product with the profile of BTA798.

Rhinoviruses can cause up to half of all adult colds and are the main cause of viral infection in children. For most people, the effects are little more than an inconvenience, however for individuals with underlying respiratory problems such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), they can often lead to complications requiring immediate hospitalisation.

Biota's shares closed today up 4.12 percent to $1.01.