Melbourne's Biota Holdings (ASX: BTA) has commenced dosing in an early stage trial of BTA798, an orally delivered inhibitor of human rhinovirus (HRV), a major cause of the common cold.

The UK based trial is aimed at evaluating BTA798 as a prophylactic against HRV infection in 200 health volunteers, who will receive a placebo or one of three dose levels before exposure to an experimental rhinovirus infection.

The drug candidate is designed to bind to clefts on the surface of the virus's capsid shell and interfere with attachment to receptors.

Results are expected in April next year.