BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Idenix drops two HCV compounds

February 5, 2013 1:58 AM UTC

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:IDIX) discontinued development of HCV candidates IDX184 and IDX19368 after FDA told the company the programs would remain on clinical hold. Last August, FDA placed IDX184 on partial clinical hold and IDX19368 on a full clinical hold following cardiac safety concerns with a similar nucleotide NS5B polymerase inhibitor, BMS-986094, from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY). IDX184 was in Phase IIb testing at the time and IDX19368 was in preclinical testing. IDX184, IDX19368 and BMS-986094 are all prodrug forms of the nucleotide 2-methyl-guanosine triphosphate (see BioCentury Extra, Aug. 27, 2012).

Idenix has two other HCV candidates in its pipeline: IDX719, an HCV NS5A protein inhibitor in Phase II testing; and a uridine nucleotide analog in preclinical testing. As of Sept. 30, 2012, the company had $251.9 million in cash and a nine-month operating loss of $10.4 million. ...