Medivir gains on TMC435 data

Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B) jumped SEK25 (24%) to SEK131 on Monday after reporting data from the Phase IIb PILLAR (TMC435-C205) trial of TMC435 to treat HCV in 386 treatment-naive patients. The company said 92% of patients receiving 75 or 150 mg once-daily oral TMC435 for 12 weeks in combination with standard of care (SOC) for 24 weeks had undetectable HCV RNA levels (less than 25 log10 IU/mL) at week 24 vs. 22% for placebo plus SOC. Low- and high-dose TMC435 for 24 weeks in combination with SOC for 24 weeks led to undetectable HCV RNA levels in 97% and 94% of patients, respectively. SOC is Pegasys peginterferon alfa-2a and Copegus ribavirin. Medivir plans to start Phase III testing of the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor early next year. ...