Favorable results were observed for many of the parameters, including the percentage of patients achieving partial wound closure, as well as the total area of the wound healed. The safety profile is excellent and we see positive drug activity. We look forward to performing additional clinical trials with repifermin in patients with venous ulcers. Venous ulcers are lesions on the skin of the ankle or lower leg caused by chronic venous insufficiency. This leads to pooling of blood in the extremities, causing swelling, or edema, and mild redness and scaling of the skin, often over a varicose vein.
Ulceration gradually develops as the skin becomes inflamed.
The current therapy for these wounds is most often debridement, compression and management of infection. Current treatment for venous ulcers often extends for several months and frequently ends without success. Full analysis of this study will be completed during the summer. Dr. Robson will present the final data at the World Wound Healing Congress, in Australia, in September. Any statements released by Human Genome Sciences, Inc. that are forward looking are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.