To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: ZADAXIN Thymosin Alpha 1 Launched in the People's Republic of China URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/E746.htm Doctor's Guide December 4, 1996
SAN MATEO, Calif., Dec. 4, 1996 -- SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCLN), an international biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has launched ZADAXIN(R) thymosin alpha 1 in the People's Republic of China as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B. The launch commenced after clinical data from the Company's multicenter hepatitis B clinical trials in China were presented by Professor Wang Bao-en, President of the Chinese Society of Hepatology at the biennial National Meeting of Liver Diseases in Wuhan, China on November 16 - 19, 1996. More than 650 Chinese liver specialists attended the presentation by Professor Wang who presented data on a total of 150 Chinese hepatitis B patients treated with ZADAXIN at 13 medical centers throughout China. Patient response rates were defined as those patients whose hepatitis B virus DNA ("HBV DNA") and hepatitis B e-antigen ("HBeAg") levels were undetectable after six months of treatment. HBV DNA is a measure of hepatitis B viral load while HBeAg, a protein synthesized by the hepatitis B virus, is a sign of viral replication. Elimination of HBV DNA and HBeAg are important goals of therapy when treating chronic hepatitis B. Professor Wang reported on a total of 96 patients who received ZADAXIN as a monotherapy for six months (1.6 mg subcutaneously, 2x a week) and on a total of 54 patients who received the combination of ZADAXIN (1.6 mg subcutaneously, 2x a week) and alpha interferon (3 million units intramuscularly, 3x a week) for six months. There were no significant side-effects reported during the trials. At the conclusion of treatment, the results were as follows: