| |
Idenix Pharmaceuticals Reports Sustained Virologic Response Rate (SVR4) for Phase II All-Oral Combination Study of Samatasvir (IDX719), a Potent, Pan-Genotypic HCV NS5A Inhibitor, and Simeprevir
|
| |
| |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDIX), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, today announced interim data from the Company's ongoing phase II 12-week HELIX-1 clinical trial evaluating an all-oral, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV combination regimen of samatasvir (IDX719), Idenix's once-daily pan-genotypic NS5A inhibitor, and simeprevir (TMC435), a once-daily protease inhibitor jointly developed by Janssen R&D Ireland and Medivir AB, plus ribavirin. The combination regimen was well-tolerated in the study. In the treatment-naïve, non-cirrhotic, genotype 1b or 4 HCV-infected patients receiving 50 mg of samatasvir and 150 mg of simeprevir plus ribavirin, 85 percent (n=17/20) remained undetectable for HCV RNA four weeks after completing therapy (SVR4). The 50 mg dose of samatasvir is the selected dose in the ongoing 3-DAA HELIX-2 clinical trial. The HELIX-1 study results are expected to be presented at a scientific meeting in 2014.
"We are pleased with the progress of our program with Janssen, including the announcement of the HELIX-1 SVR4 and safety data, as well as the recent initiation of a second phase II all-oral combination study, HELIX-2," stated Ron Renaud, President and Chief Executive Officer of Idenix. "We also have successfully completed the single-dose portion of the phase I/II clinical trial of IDX21437, a next-generation uridine nucleotide prodrug inhibitor, and the 7-day proof-of-concept portion of the study is underway. Based on these important developments, we are on track to initiate an Idenix-sponsored combination study of samatasvir and IDX21437 by mid-2014."
HELIX-1 STUDY DESIGN
The HELIX-1 trial is the first study in HCV-infected patients to commence under a non-exclusive collaboration agreement signed with Janssen in January 2013. The HELIX-1 trial is a phase II 12-week, randomized, parallel-group study evaluating the antiviral activity, safety and tolerability of samatasvir and simeprevir in treatment-naïve, non-cirrhotic, genotype 1b or 4 HCV-infected patients. Patients in Part A of the study (n=63) were enrolled in one of three treatment groups receiving 50, 100, or 150 mg samatasvir once-daily for 12 weeks in combination with 150 mg of simeprevir plus a weight-based dose of ribavirin. In Part B of the ongoing HELIX-1 study, exploratory cohorts of patients have been added to evaluate the safety and antiviral activity of simeprevir and ribavirin in combination with 1) a 25 mg dose of samatasvir in genotype 1b-infected patients and 2) a 100 mg dose of samatasvir in genotype 6-infected patients.
A second phase II trial (HELIX-2) was initiated in December 2013 evaluating samatasvir, simeprevir and TMC647055, a once-daily non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor boosted with low-dose ritonavir being developed by Janssen, with and without ribarivin in genotype 1-infected patients who are either treatment-naïve or have previously relapsed after treatment with interferon and ribavirin.
HELIX-1 INTERIM DATA
The combination treatment regimen has been well-tolerated, and there have been no treatment-related serious adverse events in the clinical trial to date. The most frequently reported adverse events were fatigue, pruritus, anemia, nausea and insomnia.
Virologic response data from Part A of the HELIX-1 study are as follows:
"The HELIX-1 study has supported our goal of building the safety profile of samatasvir as part of an all-oral 12-week HCV combination," said Douglas Mayers, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Idenix. "Based on these data, the 50 mg dose was selected to be evaluated as part of the 3-DAA combination regimen in the recently initiated HELIX-2 clinical trial."
ABOUT THE IDENIX/JANSSEN COLLABORATION
In January 2013, Idenix entered into a non-exclusive collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the clinical development of all-oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV combination therapies. The collaboration is evaluating combinations including samatasvir, simeprevir, and TMC647055. The HELIX-1 and HELIX-2 clinical trials are being conducted by Idenix. Both Idenix and Janssen retain all rights to their respective compounds under the agreement.
ABOUT SAMATASVIR (IDX719)
Samatasvir is an NS5A inhibitor with low picomolar, pan-genotypic antiviral activity in vitro. To date, samatasvir has been safe and well-tolerated after single and multiple doses of up to 150 mg in healthy volunteers up to 14 days duration, and in HCV-infected patients up to 12 weeks duration. There have been no treatment-related serious adverse events reported in the program. Samatasvir has demonstrated potent pan-genotypic antiviral activity in HCV-infected patients with mean maximal viral load reductions up to approximately 4.0 log10 IU/mL across HCV genotypes 1-4 in a proof-of-concept, three-day monotherapy study.
ABOUT SIMEPREVIR
Simeprevir is an NS3/4A protease inhibitor jointly developed by Janssen R&D Ireland and Medivir AB for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in combination with other antivirals in HCV genotype 1- and 4-infected patients with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis.
Simeprevir was approved for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C in September 2013 in Japan under the trade name SOVRIAD™, in November 2013 in Canada under the trade name GALEXOS™ and in November 2013 in the United States under the trade name OLYSIO™. A Marketing Authorisation Application was submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in April 2013 by Janssen-Cilag International NV seeking approval of simeprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 and genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C. To date, more than 3,700 patients have been treated with simeprevir in clinical trials.
ABOUT HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C virus is a common blood-borne pathogen infecting three to four million people worldwide annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 150 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HCV, representing a nearly 5-fold greater prevalence than human immunodeficiency virus.
ABOUT IDENIX
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a biopharmaceutical Company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases. Idenix's current focus is on the treatment of patients with hepatitis C infection. For further information about Idenix, please refer to www.idenix.com.
CONTACT: Idenix Pharmaceuticals Contact:
Teri Dahlman, (617) 995-9807
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
