Last checked at 4 Jun 2014 07:00
For immediate release 07.00: 4 June 2014
RETROSCREEN VIROLOGY GROUP PLC
("Retroscreen" or the "Company")
START OF hVIVO CHALLENGE STUDY IN ASTHMA
Retroscreen Virology Group plc (AIM: RVG), the pioneer of hVIVO human challenge models of disease, is pleased to announce the start of the Company's first-ever asthma study as it seeks to develop a safe, reproducible and clinically relevant asthma human challenge model. The Company is sponsoring the study itself and plans to launch the model as the first commercially available viral challenge model for the study of asthma and third party asthma and antiviral therapies in asthmatic subjects. The model will also provide Retroscreen with its first samples obtained from subjects during the course of an asthma exacerbation using its hVIVO platform.
Retroscreen is developing a range of new human challenge models, incorporating its viral challenge model concept, to expand its service offering into new disease areas with high unmet need. These include respiratory diseases such asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), where exacerbations are typically caused by Human Rhinovirus (HRV-16) and other respiratory viruses.
The first subject has now been enrolled in a randomised double-blind study of the safety and tolerability of asthmatics to challenge with HRV-16. The aim is to validate the safety and tolerability of the HRV-16 virus and to assess the impact of infection with HRV-16 in this asthmatic population. Up to 21 asthmatic subjects, who are currently being treated with short-acting inhaled β-agonists alone, will be inoculated with the challenge virus or placebo. The primary safety endpoint is the incidence, number and severity of asthma exacerbations as determined by independent clinical review.
Kym Denny, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Retroscreen is expanding the application of its hVIVO platform into new disease areas with high unmet needs. Asthma represents a major opportunity for Retroscreen not only to expand its service offering, but also to gain important insights into a disease that affects millions of people around the world. We are also preparing to initiate, over the coming weeks, a viral challenge study in the Over 45's as a precursor to developing a COPD human challenge model."
For further information please contact:
Retroscreen Virology Group plc +44 207 756 1300
Kym Denny (CEO)
Graham Yeatman (FD)
Numis Securities Limited +44 207 260 1000
Michael Meade / Freddie Barnfield (Nominated Adviser)
James Black / Michael Burke (Corporate Broking)
Notes to Editors:
Retroscreen Virology Group plc ("Retroscreen") is a rapidly growing UK life sciences company pioneering a technology platform called hVIVO which uses human models of disease involving healthy volunteers to study new drugs and investigate disease in a safe, controlled environment.
Retroscreen has established itself as the world leader in this field through the provision of clinical services to third party study sponsors. To date, the Company has conducted over 35 clinical studies, involving more than 1600 volunteers for a range of leading industry, governmental and academic clients.
Retroscreen believes its hVIVO platform has a much wider application in helping to understand illness better, because the best way to understand human disease is by studying it in humans, not laboratory models.