Tanox reports
promising results for experimental anti-HIV drug

Biotechnology firm Tanox on Wednesday reported that a Phase II clinical trial of its experimental HIV entry inhibitor TNX-355 showed the compound significantly lowers HIV viral levels when added to standard antiretroviral therapy, The Wall Street Journal reports. The drug works by blocking key receptors on the surface of immune system cells--CCR5 and CXCR4--that HIV uses to attach to and infect the cells. Most other experimental entry inhibitors in development target only one of the receptors, company officials say. TXN-355 is created from the natural infection-fighting monoclonal antibodies from mice. These antibodies have been engineered to fight HIV in humans. Tanox plans to launch a Phase III clinical trial next year and hopes to have the medication on the market by 2009. (Advocate.com)