VIAGENE HIV-IT(V) PHASE II GENE THERAPY TRIAL

VIAGENE HIV-IT(V) PHASE II GENE THERAPY TRIAL is under way with an enrollment target of 190 patients at up to 15 centers nationwide, San Diego-based Viagene announced Dec. 5. The placebo- controlled, triple-blinded study, which is being funded by the Green Cross Corp. of Japan, employs Viagene's injectable HIV immunotherapeutic vector designed to deliver the HIV env and rev genes to non-HIV infected cells in order to stimulate a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response. The study "is the largest and the most clinically advanced gene transfer study ever to be initiated," Viagene noted.