BioCentury
ARTICLE | Finance

Quest not over

IFN-free combo data in 2013 most important for Medivir's simeprevir for HCV

December 24, 2012 8:00 AM UTC

Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B) gained 12% last week following strong SVR12 data from three Phase III HCV trials of its simeprevir plus interferon and ribavirin, but the more significant value-creating event for the protease inhibitor will come next year in the form of results from IFN-free combination trials.

On Dec. 20, Medivir gained SEK5.25 to SEK68 after once-daily simeprevir plus IFN and ribavirin led to SVR12 rates of 79-81% in the QUEST-1, QUEST-2 and PROMISE Phase III trials in genotype 1 HCV patients. On a conference call, the biotech said it and partner Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) plan to submit regulatory applications in the U.S., EU and Japan in 1H13...