BTG's varicose vein treatment found safe in trial

LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - British biotech firm BTG Plc's (BGC.L: Quote, Profile, Research) most important pipeline product, a varicose vein treatment called Varisolve, is safe for use in patients with a common heart defect, according to preliminary trial results.
In more than 90 percent of the 28 patients studied so far, tiny bubbles were detected in the blood during the treatment procedure but no neurological, visual or cardiac changes were observed, researchers said on Monday.
The U.S. Phase II safety study will continue until 50 patients have been treated and monitored.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested the trial to see if there was any risk that microbubbles used in Varisolve -- an injectable foam made with carbon dioxide -- could pass into arteries and create problems in the brain.

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