icon-    folder.gif   Conference Reports for NATAP  
 
  14th CROI
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Los Angeles, California
Feb 25- 28, 2007
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Preclinical Data From Two Novel NNRTI Idenix Compounds for the Treatment of HIV Presented at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)
 
 
  CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 1, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of human viral and other infectious diseases, announced today that preclinical data from two novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, IDX899 and IDX989, demonstrated potent and selective activity in vitro. These data were presented today by Dr. Douglas Richman at the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Los Angeles.
 
"NNRTIs are a critical part of combination antiviral regimens for the treatment of patients with HIV-1 infection," said Dr. Douglas Richman, Professor of Pathology and Medicine, University of California San Diego, and Director of the UCSD Center for AIDS Research. "However, rapid emergence of NNRTI-resistant virus remains a challenge of therapy today. New treatments are needed that offer an enhanced resistance threshold with potential for once-a- day oral dosing for HIV-1 infected individuals. These preclinical data are encouraging and I look forward to the further evaluation of this program in clinical testing."
 
Preclinical data for IDX899 and IDX989 demonstrated activity against a broad panel of wild-type HIV-1 isolates. Potency was retained against panels of clinical isolates containing various single and double NNRTI mutations. Both compounds exhibited good oral bioavailability with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. A favorable toxicology profile was also reported as genotoxicity studies were negative and no major adverse effects were observed in acute toxicity studies. IDX899 and IDX989 showed inhibition of CYP450 3A4, 2C8 and 2C9. Preliminary clinical evaluation of both Idenix compounds has been conducted under an exploratory Investigational New Drug (IND) application. A lead candidate, IDX899, has been selected for further clinical development based on its overall profile and IDX989 will remain a back-up candidate.
 
Dr. Richman's poster presentation will be available on the CROI website at http://www.retroconference.org/2007/.
 
About Idenix
 
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of human viral and other infectious diseases. Idenix's current focus is on the treatment of infections caused by hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and HIV. For further information about Idenix, please refer to http://www.idenix.com.