Medivir: First interim results from a phase IIa study evaluating an all-oral regimen of Simeprevir and Sofosbuvir in prior null responder Hepatitis C patients
STOCKHOLM, Mar 04, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Regulatory News:
Medivir AB (sto:MVIR-B) today announced first interim results from the cohort 1 of a Phase IIa study of the investigational protease inhibitor simeprevir (TMC435) administered once daily with Gilead's investigational nucleotide inhibitor sofosbuvir (GS-7977) with and without ribavirin for 12 and 24 weeks in genotype 1 prior null-responder hepatitis C patients with mild to moderate fibrosis (METAVIR F0-2). Simeprevir is jointly developed by Medivir AB and Janssen R&D Ireland, an affiliate of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies.
Further data will be presented this week at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) on March 6 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Cohort 1 of the phase IIa open-label COSMOS study randomized 80 genotype 1 patients into one of four arms including 150 mg of once-daily simeprevir plus 400 mg of sofosbuvir for 24 weeks with or without ribavirin or for 12 weeks with or without ribavirin.
Summary of data available at the time of the interim analysis when submitted to CROI:
Virologic response rates with 150 mg simeprevir (SMV) and 400 mg sofosbuvir (SOF) q.d. with or without ribavirin (RBV).
The regimen of once-daily simeprevir and sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin was generally well tolerated and no serious adverse events occurred during the treatment period for the patients involved in the study.
The COSMOS (Combination Of SiMeprevir and sOfosbuvir in HCV genotype 1 infected patientS) study will also include a second cohort that will investigate similar treatment regimens and durations in HCV genotype 1 prior null-responder and treatment-naive patients with METAVIR scores of F3-F4.
About the COSMOS Trial
COSMOS is a randomized, open-label study investigating the efficacy and safety of 12 or 24 weeks of simeprevir and sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin in HCV genotype 1 patients who are treatment naive or have prior null response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy.
Cohort 1 of the COSMOS study enrolled 80 genotype 1 prior null-responder HCV patients with METAVIR scores of F0-F2, who were stratified by IL28B status and genotype 1 subtype, into one of four arms including once-daily simeprevir (150 mg) plus sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 24 weeks with or without ribavirin, or once-daily simeprevir (150 mg) plus sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 12 weeks with or without ribavirin.
Cohort 2 of the study will investigate similar treatment regimens and durations in genotype 1 prior null-responder and treatment-naive patients with METAVIR scores of F3-F4. The Metavir score is used to quantify the degree of inflammation and fibrosis of the liver. Liver fibrosis is scored on a four-point scale.
About Simeprevir
Simeprevir, an investigational NS3/4A protease inhibitor jointly developed by Janssen R&D Ireland and Medivir AB, is currently in late phase III studies as a once-daily capsule (150 mg) taken in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of genotypes 1 and 4 HCV.
Global phase III studies of simeprevir include QUEST-1 and QUEST-2 in treatment-naive patients, PROMISE in patients who have relapsed after prior interferon-based treatment and ATTAIN in null-responder patients. In parallel to these trials, phase III studies for simeprevir are ongoing in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced HIV-HCV co-infected patients, HCV genotype 4 patients and Japanese HCV genotype 1 patients. Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. recently announced the submission of a new drug application for simeprevir in Japan for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C.
Simeprevir is being studied in phase II interferon-free trials with and without ribavirin in combination with:
-- Janssen's non-nucleoside inhibitor TMC647055 and ritonavir in treatment-naive genotype 1a and 1b HCV patients;
-- Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s nucleotide inhibitor sofosbuvir (GS-7977) in treatment-naive and previous null-responder genotype 1 HCV patients; and
-- Bristol-Myers Squibb's NS5A replication complex inhibitor daclatasvir (BMS-790052) in treatment-naive and previous null-responder genotype 1 HCV patients.
In addition, Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc. recently announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to evaluate in a phase II study the safety and efficacy of an all-oral regimen of simeprevir and Vertex's investigational nucleotide analogue polymerase inhibitor VX-135 for the treatment of HCV. As a first step, Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc. will conduct a drug-drug interaction (DDI) study with simeprevir and VX-135.
Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc. also recently announced plans to initiate a phase IIa trial of an investigational interferon-free regimen with simeprevir, TMC647055 and Idenix's IDX719, a once-daily NS5A inhibitor, with and without ribavirin.
For additional information about simeprevir clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Sofosbuvir
Sofosbuvir (formerly referred to as GS-7977) is a once-daily nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor for the treatment of HCV infection being developed by Gilead Sciences. Sofosbuvir is being evaluated as part of multiple therapeutic regimens, including programs with RBV alone and in combination with peg-IFN and RBV.
About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, a blood-borne infectious disease of the liver and a leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplants, is a rapidly evolving treatment area with a clear need for innovative treatments. Approximately 150 million people are infected with hepatitis C worldwide, and 350,000 people per year die from the disease.
About Medivir AB
Medivir is an emerging research-based pharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases.
Medivir has world class expertise in polymerase and protease drug targets and drug development which has resulted in a strong infectious disease R&D portfolio. The Company's key pipeline asset is simeprevir, a novel protease inhibitor in late phase III clinical development for hepatitis C that is being developed in collaboration with Janssen R&D Ireland. Medivir has also a broad product portfolio with prescription pharmaceuticals in the Nordics.
For more information about Medivir AB, please visit the Company's website: www.medivir.com
Medivir is a collaborative and agile pharmaceutical company with an R&D focus on infectious diseases and a leading position in hepatitis C. We are passionate and uncompromising in our mission to develop and commercialize innovative pharmaceuticals that improve people's lives.
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SOURCE: Medivir
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