ViroPharma to end dosing in mid-stage trial of Hepatitis C drug

Aug 10 (Reuters) - ViroPharma Inc. said (VPHM.O) said it and partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Wyeth (WYE.N), decided to end dosing with a drug to treat Hepatitis C virus in a mid-stage trial due to safety concerns.

ViroPharma said the drug, HCV-796, was given along with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

This decision follows a review of safety data which shows elevated liver enzyme levels in some patients after 8 weeks or more of therapy with the combination, ViroPharma said in a statement.

(Reporting by Varsha Tickoo in Bangalore)

((Editing by Christina Pantin; Reuters Messaging: varsha.tickoo.reuters.com@reuters.net; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800;)) Keywords: VIROPHARMA DRUG/WYETH

(C) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution ofReuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expresslyprohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuterssphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group ofcompanies around the world.nWNAS1569