Locteron™

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 130 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C and that an additional three to four million people are infected each year. Worldwide sales of interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C were approximately $2.8 billion in 2005, and it is estimated that such sales will increase to more than $5 billion by 2014. Under the current standard of care, interferon alfa is injected weekly for up to 48 weeks and is associated with significant side effects, including fatigue, flu-like symptoms and depression, resulting in high rates of patient non-compliance and discontinuation of therapy. Future treatment is expected to continue to consist of interferon in combination with one or more antiviral agents, which could heighten patient tolerability concerns, because the antiviral agents currently under development have been reported to cause additional side effects.

Locteron is designed to improve patient care by providing a more favorable side-effect profile and more convenient dosing.

Locteron incorporates PolyActive, a controlled-release technology patented by our co-development partner OctoPlus N.V., which provides a gradual release of interferon alfa to patients without the high initial blood levels associated with the significant side effects experienced by patients today.

Locteron is also formulated to allow dosing once every two weeks, a substantial improvement in patient convenience compared to currently marketed interferon alfa products that require dosing every week.

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