Idenix falls on IDX184, IDX320 clinical hold

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:IDIX) fell $2.81 (47%) to $3.18 on Tuesday after FDA placed a clinical hold on HCV candidates IDX184 and IDX320 due to three serious adverse events in a Phase I drug-drug interaction study of the two compounds. Idenix said liver function abnormalities were detected in three healthy volunteers who received both IDX184, a polymerase inhibitor, and IDX320, a protease inhibitor. The company said liver function has returned to near normal levels in all three subjects during follow-up. Idenix, which has yet to receive a formal letter from FDA, plans to submit data from preclinical, toxicology and clinical studies to the agency to assess next steps in the development of both compounds. ...