Vertex reports data for VX-222/Incivek in interferon-free arms

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) reported interim data from 46 treatment-naive patients with chronic HCV genotype 1a or 1b infection who received twice-daily 400 mg VX-222 plus Incivek telaprevir and ribavirin in the interferon-free arms of the Phase II ZENITH trial. Of the 11 patients who were eligible to stop all treatment at week 12, 9 (82%) achieved a sustained virologic response four weeks after the end of treatment (SVR4). All 5 evaluable patients with HCV genotype 1b infection achieved an SVR 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12). SVR12 data for the 6 patients with HCV genotype 1a infection are not yet available. Patients with undetectable virus at weeks 2 and 8 were eligible to stop all treatment at week 12. Data from all 46 patients showed that rates of rapid (RVR) and complete early virologic response (cEVR), defined as undetectable virus at week 4 and 12 of treatment, respectively, were 74% and 83%. ...