Achillion reports more HCV data
Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHN) presented additional data from the Phase II 007 trial evaluating the company's ACH-3102 in combination with sovaprevir (formerly ACH-1625) to treat chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. In 30 treatment-naïve patients, 100% of patients with HCV genotype 1b infection who received sovaprevir plus ACH-3102 and ribavirin (n=8) achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Achillion said SVR rates in patients with HCV genotype 1a infection were "suboptimal" and the company has no plans to pursue the combination the genotype. The company -- which presented the data at the Asia Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver meeting gained as much as $0.42 (13%) on Friday before closing up $0.13 to $3.30.
ACH-3102 is a pan-genotypic, second-generation HCV NS5A protein inhibitor. Mid-year, Achillion plans to start a Phase II trial to evaluate ACH-3102 in combination with its ACH-2684, an HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor, in patients with HCV genotype 1b infection. Early next year, the company plans to start a Phase II trial evaluating ACH-3102 in combination with ACH-3422, an HCV non-structural protein 5B (NS5B) polymerase inhibitor. ...