Idenix partners with Medivir/J&J for interferon-free HCV combo

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:IDIX) gained as much as $1.17 (25%) on Monday before closing up $0.18 to $4.91 after the biotech, Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said they partnered to develop an all oral, interferon-free HCV combination therapy. The partners will evaluate through Phase II testing combinations of Idenix's IDX719, an HCV NS5A protein inhibitor; J&J's TMC647055, a non-nucleoside HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor; and simeprevir ( TMC435), an HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor from Medivir and J&J.

Idenix will conduct the trials and said it will provide the majority of funding. A drug-drug interaction study is slated to start this quarter, along with a Phase II trial evaluating IDX719 and simeprevir plus ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients. The partners also will evaluate IDX719, simeprevir and TMC647055 boosted with low-dose Norvir ritonavir from AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV), with or without ribavirin in a second Phase II trial. ...