Genzyme looks to future tolevamer trials

Genzyme is looking to the future for support of its tolevamer treatment for diarrhoea, it has emerged.

The company announced "disappointing" clinical trial results for the drug recently, but states that further research is needed to highlight potential applications for the treatment.

And Genzyme claims that the solid or liquid state of the medicine could be a key aspect which influences its efficacy.

While a liquid formulation failed to meet its primary target of performing well compared with the generic treatment vancomycin in a recent phase III study, an earlier phase II investigation found a solid-state version was effective.

"The results of our second phase III study will be available later this year," says Henri Termeer, chair and chief executive officer of Genzyme.

He suggests that the findings of the upcoming trial "will help us determine what contribution tolevamer might be able to make in addressing this serious unmet medical need".

Genzyme was founded on June 8th, 1981, with a "focused scientific basis and pragmatic business approach", the company states.