Medivir drops HCV NS5A inhibitor program

Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B) said it is discontinuing its preclinical HCV NS5A protein inhibitor program to focus on its preclinical program of nucleotide-based HCV polymerase inhibitors. The company said it made the decision based on the "competitive landscape" and the "expected evolution" of therapies for HCV infection. Medivir has two nucleotide-based HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors in preclinical development, one of which is partnered with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ).

Medivir's most advanced HCV compound is simeprevir ( TMC435), an HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor under review in the U.S. and EU. J&J's Janssen R&D Ireland unit has ex-Nordic rights to develop and commercialize HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor simeprevir from Medivir. ...