Foresight Biotherapeutics Announces Initiation Of Viral Conjunctivitis Clinical Trial

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 29 Jul 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Foresight Biotherapeutics announced that the first patient has been dosed in a viral conjunctivitis clinical trial. Foresight's proprietary lead compound, FST-100, will be tested in a placebo-controlled, masked, and randomized multicenter clinical study throughout the United States. The primary endpoint of the study is the resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of acute conjunctivitis. Secondary endpoints include a reduction in quantitative PCR (qPCR) viral titers, eradication of infectious virus determined by cell culture immunofluorescence assay (CC-IFA), and safety. The company anticipates enrolling up to 100 patients.

This controlled clinical trial follows a successful pilot trial in which the safety and efficacy of FST-100 were demonstrated. In addition, the company recently completed and announced a successful preclinical study in a rabbit model of adenoviral conjunctivitis.

Viral conjunctivitis or "pink eye" is the most common eye infection in the developed world. The highly contagious infection is a frequent cause of epidemics in the workplace, schools, medical centers and long term care facilities. Treatment is mostly supportive as there is currently no drug approved by the FDA for viral conjunctivitis. FST-100 is a novel formulation of dexamethasone that includes povidone-iodine. This novel formulation may be able to relieve the discomfort and shorten the course of the illness. Foresight Biotherapeutics looks forward to working with the investigators in conducting this clinical trial and advancing the development of the program.

Source
Foresight Biotherapeutics, Inc.

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