Swiss drug maker NovImmune has begun a proof-of-concept study to evaluate NI-0801 in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

NI-0801 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that neutralises CXCL10 / interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) chemokine.

Two previous Phase I trials have demonstrated that the drug is safe and well tolerated when given to healthy volunteers.

Principal investigator David Adams said that the therapeutic approach of neutralising CXCL10 / IP-10 with NI-0801 will offer great benefits to the large and therapeutically ill-served primary biliary cirrhosis patient population.