Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Idenix: New HCV Treatment Could Be A Game Changer

Investing Commentary

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Idenix Pharma (IDIX): New HCV Treatment Could Be A Game Changer

Excerpt:
The company's candidate IDX184 is the principle value driver at this point. Although IDX184 is considered to be less potent than the leading HCV nuclear clinical candidate (Gilead Sciences' GS-7977), the available data suggest that IDX184 would be successfully developed, thereby unlocking significant value in Idenix shares...
"While the wholly-owned key asset IDX184 is not a best-in-class nucleotide ("nuc") polymerase inhibitor, we think its high barrier to resistance will confer value in alternative DAA combos, with data in 2013 driving estimates higher and solidifying its scarcity among late-stage nucs," UBS analyst Matthew Roden wrote in a note to clients...
Idenix has the only unencumbered nuc in late-stage clinical development, as well as IDX719, a potentially best-in-class pan-genotypic NS5a inhibitor in phase-1 trials as well. IDX719 targets the HCV non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein presents a second clinical stage asset, and could be differentiated among the NS5a class in terms of potency and pan-genotypic activity.
The company has also planned to begin trials with a combination of IDX 719 and IDX 184 towards the end of this year. "Given the potential for both classes to become backbone therapies in HCV (and potentially form an all-IDIX pan-genotypic combo), we believe the Idenix pipeline has considerable scarcity value, and will attract large pharma or biotech partners," the analyst noted. In addition, Idenix holds significant intellectual property in nuc chemistry, and may have rights to other nucs in HCV.....

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Related - Published July 14 at gurufocus.com
IDX184-Idenix Pharmaceuticals Lagging Behind In Breakthrough Hepatitis C Drug Development

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