SciClone says hepatitis C drug trial's interim data promising

Feb 11 (Reuters) - SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc (SCLN.O) and Sigma-Tau S.p.A said interim data from a late-stage trial of hepatitis C drug candidate, Zadaxin, was promising, with 171 out of 553 total patients responding to treatment at the end of 48 weeks of therapy.

Full data from the trial will be available in the third quarter of 2008, the companies said in a joint statement. (Reporting by Varsha Tickoo in Bangalore)