Vertex to evaluate all-oral HCV regimens
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) announced two non-exclusive deals on Thursday to evaluate all-oral HCV regimens containing Vertex's VX-135 ( ALS-2200) in Phase II studies. Vertex partnered with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to evaluate VX-135 plus J&J's simeprevir ( TMC435), and with GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) to evaluate VX-135 and GSK2336805. The Phase II trials each will evaluate 12-week regimens with or without ribavirin in non-cirrhotic, treatment-naïve patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. Both of the trials are slated to start in early 2013.
J&J will conduct a drug-drug interaction study prior to the start of the VX-135 and simeprevir study. Vertex will equally share development costs with the pharma partners for the Phase II trials. ...