While Regulus was getting dinged this morning following some careful
scrutiny of its latest hep C data, Achillion came out on top with new
trial results which demonstrated that a combination of its NS5A
inhibitor and Gilead's Sovaldi triggered a 6-week cure among all of the
patients in a small study. And now researchers are using the data to set
the stage to see if the results can be replicated even faster in a
4-week trial.
Investigators found that 50 mg of ACH-3102 and 400 mg of sofosbuvir
did the trick for 12 out of 12 treatment-naive genotype 1 patients. CEO
Milind Deshpande touted the results as the shortest duration, highest
response results yet seen. He added: "Given the exceptional profile of
ACH-3102, we will now be evaluating four- and six-week treatment
durations that leverage all of our HCV assets including ACH-3102,
ACH-3422, and sovaprevir."
Achillion is still looking to enter a fast-crowding marketplace.
Competing drugs from Gilead and AbbVie have forced out earlier standard
remedies with oral combos that are much easier to tolerate and much more
likely to provide a lasting cure. The goal now is to find ways to do it
quicker and with less expense, providing an opening for some of the
companies still in the hunt.
Read more...Labels: 6 week treatment, ACH-3102 plus sofosbuvir, achillion