Medivir announces a phase II all-oral study of Simeprevir (TMC435) and VX-135 for the treatment of Hepatitis C to be conducted by Janssen and Vertex

07-Nov-2012 - Sweden

Medivir AB announced plans for a phase II proof-of-concept study of an all-oral regimen for the treatment of hepatitis C containing of Medivir/Janssen’s protease inhibitor simeprevir and Vertex’s nucleotide analogue hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor VX-135. Janssen will conduct a drug-drug interaction study with simeprevir and VX-135 to support the planned initiation of a phase II proof-of-concept study in early 2013, pending discussions with regulatory authorities.

The phase II study is expected to evaluate safety, tolerability and viral cure rates using a 12-week combination of simeprevir and VX-135, with and without ribavirin. Janssen and Vertex will jointly fund development costs associated with the collaboration. There are no up-front or milestone payments associated with the agreement.

Simeprevir is a potent, once-daily investigational hepatitis C protease inhibitor, currently in phase III trials, being jointly developed by Medivir AB and Janssen R&D Ireland.VX-135 is an investigational uridine nucleotide analogue pro-drug designed to inhibit the replication of the hepatitis C virus by acting on the NS5B polymerase.

“This study will broaden our understanding of simeprevir, which we believe has the necessary characteristics to become a key component of future hepatitis C treatment regimens, including combination with interferon and ribavirin as well as interferon-free therapies and is in line with Medivir’s and Janssen’s strategy to evaluate different interferon-free HCV treatment possibilities” comments Charlotte Edenius, EVP of Research and Development, Medivir AB.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/140394/medivir-announces-a-phase-ii-all-oral-study-of-simeprevir-tmc435-and-vx-135-for-the-treatment-of-hepatitis-c-to-be-conducted-by-janssen-and-vertex.html