ASIANET: SCICLONE'S ZADAXIN(R) THYMOSIN ALPHA 1 IN COMBINATION WITH TACE IMPROVED SURVIVAL OF LIVER CANCER PATIENTS

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire-Asianet/ -- SciClone Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SCLN), today announced the results of a study published in Hepato-Gastroenterology 45 (1998) indicating that its lead product, ZADAXIN(R) thymosin alpha 1, may be useful in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common cancer worldwide.

The ZADAXIN plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combination regimen "resulted in a longer survival that reached statistical significance seven months after the end of treatment (p<0.05)," Giuseppe Francesco Stefanini, M.D., of Ospedale di Faenza, and his colleagues reported.

"These initial findings suggest that ZADAXIN has potential beyond our current developmental targets for viral hepatitis and immune system disorders," stated Alfred R. Rudolph, M.D., SciClone's Chief Operating Officer.  "The fact that ZADAXIN was able to demonstrate a survival benefit in a study this small is very encouraging."

In this preliminary study, twelve patients were treated with ZADAXIN thymosin alpha 1 (subcutaneously twice per week for six months) and TACE, and compared to a matched historical control group of twelve patients who were treated with TACE alone.  The TACE procedure consisted of injection of iodized oil mixed with doxorubicin (an anticancer drug), followed by embolization.

Patients receiving combination ZADAXIN plus TACE also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressing CD3 (p<0.05) and CD8 (p<0.025) three months after beginning treatment.  They also had a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in the natural killer cell markers (CD16+ and CD56+ cells) after one month.  No severe side effects were reported in either treatment group.  The researchers concluded that the results observed in this historically-controlled study call for a well controlled study to confirm the efficacy of combination ZADAXIN plus TACE.

Primary liver cancer is the most common cancer in the world.  HCC is the most common primary liver cancer.  Although in the U.S. primary liver cancer accounts for less than 1% of all cancers, in territories such as Asia it accounts for up to 50% of cancer cases.  Chronic carriers of the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus are at substantially increased risk to develop HCC.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company that acquires, develops and commercializes specialist-oriented drugs for treating chronic and life-threatening diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cystic fibrosis, cancer and immune system disorders.  Press releases and corporate information from SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are available on the Internet at www.sciclone.com and by fax at 800-996-7256.

SOURCE  SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT:  Shawn K. Singh, Senior Vice President of SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 650-358-3456/

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