Biotron shares jump on trial result

Drug developer Biotron says its drug to treat HIV and the hepatitis C virus is showing promising trial results.

Shares in drug developer Biotron have soared after data from a clinical trial of its lead anti-viral drug showed patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C were virus-free after six months of treatment.

"This extends previous data that showed patients had undetectable virus levels at 12 weeks," Biotron said on Thursday.

"Response to treatment at this time point is generally a good indication of final outcome at 48 weeks."

Preliminary data from patients who have completed 48 weeks of treatment indicate that they remain virus-free, the company also said.

"This 24-week data further validates the efficacy of BIT225 as a potential new therapy for HCV (Hepatitis 3 virus) and, in particular, for this difficult to treat group of HIV/HCV co-infected patients who typically have more serious HCV infection and lower response rates to treatment with existing standard therapies," managing director Michelle Miller said.

Biotron shares had more than doubled by 1522 AEDT, up 8.4 cents at 18 cents.