SOUTH AFRICA HALTS HIV DRUG TRIALS

Bloomberg 6 April 2000

Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc. shares fell 34 percent after the antiviral- drug developer said it stopped recruiting patients in a clinical trial in which it found higher-than-expected liver damage among study patients, two of whom died.

Triangle Pharmaceuticals shares fell 4 1/2 to 8 3/4 in Nasdaq Stock Market Trading. About 4.01 million shares were traded, almost 16 times the three-month daily average.

The 470-patient Coviracil study, being conducted in South Africa, is aimed at finding a treatment for AIDS or hepatitis B. The Durham, North Carolina-based company denied a South African media report that the entire study, which began in August, was halted. Triangle said the liver toxicity isn't related to the drug.

"Liver toxicity hasn't been a significant concern in any other study of Coviracil,'' Dr. David Barry, chairman and chief executive of Triangle, said in a statement.

Separately, the company said it received a letter from the Medicines Control Council, South Africa's drug regulatory agency, asking that the study be halted.

Triangle said it is conducting a Coviracil study in the U.S. and plans studies in Europe and South America.