More PILLAR data for TMC435

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) reported additional data from the Phase IIb PILLAR (TMC435-C205) trial of TMC435 to treat HCV in 386 treatment-naive patients. The company said 79-86% of patients receiving oral TMC435 were able to stop all therapy at week 24 after meeting predefined response criteria of achieving undetectable HCV RNA levels at week 4 and at weeks 12, 16 and 20. J&J and partner Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B) previously reported interim data from the trial showing that 92% of patients receiving either 75 or 150 mg TMC435 for 12 weeks in combination with standard of care for 24 weeks had undetectable HCV RNA levels at week 24 vs. 22% for placebo plus standard of care. Medivir plans to start Phase III testing of the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor in 1H11. ...