Monogram studies support use of Trofile assay in identifying appropriate HIV treatment

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 17 - Monogram Biosciences, Inc. said four studies demonstrated the ability of its Trofile assay to determine whether a patient's virus is able to gain entry into cells via the CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor, or a combination of the two.

Study results were presented at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto.

The first study confirms that the Trofile assay can accurately characterize the tropism of a panel of diverse HIV strains.

In the second study, phenotypic analysis with Trofile was found to be more accurate than genotypic measures.

Scientists from Pfizer, Inc. presented data from a third study suggesting that screening patients with the Trofile assay helps physicians to avoid treating patients with expensive drug therapy who are unlikely to respond.

Investigators from the AIDS Clinical Trial Group 5211 study team and Schering-Plough demonstrated the positive predictive value of the assay in patients participating in a phase 2b trial of Schering-Plough's CCR5 antagonist vicriviroc.

"Despite advances in treatment options for HIV-infected patients, we know that not every drug candidate is appropriate for every patient," chief executive officer Bill Young said in a company news release.

"Our assays help screen patients to identify those most likely to respond to these new classes of drugs based on the tropism of the infecting virus."

South San Francisco, Calif.-based Monogram develops and markets products to treat infectious diseases and cancer.

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