The drug, known as aplaviroc, was in phase III trials, the final stage usually required for regulatory approval. All studies were halted after a patient was found with elevated liver enzymes and total bilirubin, the London-based company said today.

``It's clearly not good news,'' Robin Gilbert, an analyst at Numis Securities, said in an interview. ``But it's just one of many, many products Glaxo has under development.'' Gilbert has a ``hold'' recommendation on the stock.

Last month, Glaxo and its partner Ono Pharmaceutical Co., said phase II tests revealed the drug may cause liver abnormalities. The trials were conducted with HIV patients who had never been treated with other drugs for the virus.

``Clearly we're disappointed, but our primary concern is to protect the safety and health of our patients,'' Glaxo spokesman Chris Hunter-Ward said in an interview.

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