Idera Pharmaceuticals reports positive antiviral results from phase 1 study for Hep C drug

Idera Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IDRA) announced Monday positive preliminary results from a phase 1 study for IMO-2125, the company's investigational drug treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection.

Hep C is an infectious disease affecting the liver. It is often asymptomatic, but once established, chronic infection can progress to scarring of the liver. In some cases, people will go on to develop liver failure or other complications, including liver cancer.

During the 4-week dose-ranging trial, the IMO-2125 drug was tested in combination with ribavirin, in 60 patients with the virus. The results indicated a "substantial decline" in virus levels at two days after the first dose of IMO-2125, and after four weeks of treatment, the company said.

In addition, liver enzymes decreased during the treatment period and were within the normal range by the end of the fourth week in the majority of IMO-2125-treated patients.

"In this study, IMO-2125 plus ribavirin was well tolerated with no treatment-related discontinuations, and demonstrated substantial antiviral activity," said vice president of clinical development, Robert Arbeit.

Idera develops drug candidates that act by modulating immune responses through specific Toll-like Receptors (TLRs).

TLRs, a family of immune system receptors and the immune system's first line of defense, recognize pathogens, or infectious agents, and initiate an immune response.

IMO-2125 is designed to stimulate the immune system, causing the body to generate natural interferons and other antiviral cytokines, or protein regulating molecules.

The company said it is now planning a 12-week phase 2 trial of the drug, which it expects will determine optimal dosing and provide longer term safety and antiviral activity data. Recruitment for the study is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of next year.

Idera was up more than 7% on Monday morning, trading at $2.53 as of 11:30am EST