Medivir AB (STO:MVIR), a developer of drugs with a focus on cancer where the unmet medical needs are high, reported on Thursday the results of an analysis of data from the first six patients with advanced cancer in the liver treated with increasing MIV-818 doses, under the phase 1a study.

Reportedly, the primary objective of the study is to evaluate the tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetics of MIV-818.

According to Medivir, evaluated doses have been shown to be well-tolerated by patients. An effect signal, measured as DNA damage, has been observed in liver biopsies from tumour tissue in MIV-818 treated patients. In contrast to the tumour, normal liver tissue does not appear to have been affected by the treatment.

This tumour selective effect was observed at low measured levels of MIV-818 in plasma and is an early indication that MIV-818 works as expected, i.e. the substance has the intended liver-directed effect.

Based on the positive results from the first six patients, Medivir has decided to initiate the phase 1b part of the MIV-818 study.

MIV-818 is a pro-drug designed to selectively treat liver cancers and to minimise side effects. It has the potential to become the first liver-targeted, orally administered drug to benefit patients with HCC and other forms of liver cancer, Medivir said.