Chiron ends clinical trial of HIV treatment

Chiron Corp. announced Wednesday that it is ending the development of three compounds, including a recombinant form of interleukin-2 being studied in a Phase III trial for the treatment of patients with HIV. The company had been expected to complete the clinical trial, including patient follow-up, in 2007. Chiron is now reviewing data for a possible regulatory submission for approval of IL-2 only in a small subset of HIV-positive patients who do not receive any response to other anti-HIV medications. The company also stopped development of compounds intended to treat cystic fibrosis and hepatitis B.