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VENTURE capitalists-backed Hatchtech has successfully completed a Phase 2a study of its lead product DeOvo, finding the topical treatment to be safe, well-tolerated and effective after a single treatment.

The double-blind placebo-controlled study of 30 heavily infested adults had safety and tolerability as primary endpoints.

Its key objective was to judge the safety profile after one 10-20 minute application to the hair and scalp.

A secondary endpoint was the testing of its efficacy.

Effectiveness was defined as there were no live head lice and no live eggs following the treatment.

The data indicated DeOvo had significant louisicidal and ovum-killing activity in comparison to the vehicle control, which will help guide design of a planned phase 2b study.

Hatchtech chairman Dr Stewart Washer said the privately backed company was delighted with the strength of the data.

“Although the study was not designed to demonstrate efficacy, the clear lousicidal and ovicidal activity of DeOvo with a single treatment and short 10-20 minute contact time demonstrates that we have a very competitive product.”

Washer said Hatchtech looked forward to the start of its next DeOvo clinical trial in the United States which would look at safety and efficacy in a younger, paediatric population.

As the company moves forward with DeOvo, it has added pharmaceutical and dermatologic professional Dr Ross Macdonald to its board. For more details see today’s Bio People.