BiolineRX Ltd. (TASE:BLRX) will begin a pivotal clinical trial of its BL-1040 treatment following heart attacks, as part of the further clinical development. The trial is scheduled to begin in the second of 2011.
BL-1040 is injected into patients following a heart attack, and the liquid polymer is intended to help rebuild stronger heart muscle tissue. The liquid turns into a gel when it comes into contact with damaged heart tissue.
Ikaria Holdings Inc. is leading the trial under a development and commercialization agreement signed with Bioline RX in 2009.
The trial will test the safety and efficacy of the BL-1040 standard to prevent pathological changes in the heart structure, which are liable to cause heart failure in patients who have suffered acute myocardial infarction. The double-blind trial will include 270 patients, including patients given a placebo. Patients who have suffered a heart attack will be given BL-1040, and their condition will be monitored for six months after the treatment.
Bioline RX CEO Dr. Kinneret Savitsky said, "We are satisfied with the intensive continued clinical development of BL-1040 by Ikaria. BL-1040 is a proprietary product for the prevention of pathological changes in the heart. This trial is one of two pivotal partly overlapping clinical trials that Ikaria will carry out. They will include a large number of patients, in order to test the safety and efficacy of BL-1040." She added that Bioline RX would continue to work on other drugs in its portfolio and to seek other promising projects.
Bioline RX's share price rose 1.1% in early trading on the TASE to NIS 2.35, gibing a market cap of NIS 338 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 27, 2011
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