Anadys Rockets 115% on Hep C Data

Updated from 11:43 a.m. EST

Anadys Pharmaceuticals(ANDS Quote) released the first antiviral activity data on its lead hepatitis C drug Thursday, which the company hopes will attract a deep-pocketed partner to fund further development.

Eight patients with hepatitis C treated with a twice-daily dose of the drug ANA598 reported a median reduction of more than 99% in the level of virus after three days of treatment, the company said.

None of the patients in the study reported a rebound in their viral loads while taking the drug and there were no serious adverse events reported. The interim results come from an ongoing phase Ib study of ANA598 -- the first study in which the drug is being tested in patients infected with hepatitis C. ...