Prolor Biotech Inc. (AMEX: PBTH; TASE: PBTH) today announced positive efficacy interim results from the Phase II clinical trial of its long-acting human growth hormone hGH-CTP. The share price rose 4.1% on the news on the TASE to NIS 21.60. The share price closed at $5.98 in New York on Friday, giving a market cap of $212 million.
The interim efficacy data show that a single weekly injection of hGH-CTP, even when administered at relatively low doses, has the potential to replace seven consecutive daily injections of human growth hormone treatments now on the market. In February, Prolor reported that hGH-CTP showed a good safety profile.
The Phase II trial to test the safety and tolerability of hGH-CTP includes up to 56 people with growth hormone deficiency, organized in three cohorts, each of which receives a different single weekly dose of hGH-CTP. The dosages contain 30%, 45% or 100% of the cumulative dosage of commercial growth hormones the patients would have received over seven days. The interim results are from the 34 patients in the low dosage cohort.
Prolor is organizing a fourth cohort of patients who will receive hGH-CTP once every two weeks in a dosage of 50% of the cumulative dosage of commercial growth hormones the patients would have received over this period.
Prolor CEO Dr. Avri Havron expects to complete the trial by mid-year, and he expects that the positive interim results will enable the company to prepare for a Phase III clinical trial.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 11, 2011
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