Data demonstrating the safety of Tarvacin (from Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc) will be presented today at the 2nd Annual Viral Hepatitis in Drug Discovery and Development' Conference.

Tarvacin Anti-Viral is the first in a new class of anti-phosphotidylserine (PS) immunotherapeutics that targets and binds to cellular components that are normally not present on the outside of cells, but which become exposed on certain virally infected cells and on the surface of enveloped viruses. Tarvacin helps stimulate the body's immune defenses to destroy both the virus particles and the infected cells.

According to Phase I clinical trials, Tarvacin was proven safe for use in patients with chronic hepatitis c viral infections.

"Tarvacin represents a completely new approach to treating HCV infections, and these initial positive safety data are promising," said Dr. Eliot W. Godofsky, principal investigator of the Phase l study. "While there are a number of new HCV drugs in development, Tarvacin's unique mechanism has the potential to combat the virus in a novel way. In addition, it's potential for use in combination regimens to control and ultimately cure HCV warrants further investigation."

Click here to find out more about Tarvacin's mode of action.

[Source: Peregrine, Inc. Press Release]