Biota antiviral batters the common cold

By Dylan Bushell-Embling
Thursday, 29 March, 2012

Shares in Biota (ASX:BTA) grew nearly 7% on Wednesday, after the company reported positive results from a phase IIb trial of its oral antiviral vapendavir.

The trial of the treatment of naturally acquired human rhinovirus (HRV) infection – typically called a common cold – in asthmatics showed a statistically significant reduction in cold symptoms compared to a placebo.

The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 300 subjects across 48 centres in the US.

Cold symptoms were assessed over 14 days following the onset of illness, using the WUSS-21 (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey) scale.

Patients receiving the treatment demonstrated improved WUSS scores, as well as higher peak expiratory flow function, reduced need for asthma relief medication and lower incidence of viral infection compared to the controls.

Biota has revealed it will now start planning and design for phase III trials of vapendavir.

Vapendavir is the WHO-assigned non-proprietary name for Biota's BTA798 orally-administered antiviral drug candidate. It is a capsid blinder, designed to prevent rhinoviruses from attaching to receptors on the surface of cells. Biota started phase IIa trials of the compound in mid-2010.

There is currently no effective treatment available for HRV.

Biota is a Victoria-based anti-infective drug development company. As well as vapendavir, the company also developed zanamivir, the neuraminidase inhibitor marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Relenza.

Biota is also behind neuraminidase inhibitor laninamivir, and has secured a US$231 million ($221.5 million) contract with the US Office of Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority to further develop this compound in the US.

The company recently revealed it will expand its Melbourne facilities to accommodate the required development efforts.

Biota (ASX:BTA) shares climbed as high as $0.945 in Wednesday's trading after the announcement was made, before settling back to $0.920 by market close – a 6.98% gain on the day before.