New data released today in abstract for upcoming EASL / AASLD Special Conference: New Perspectives in Hepatitis C Virus Infection – The Roadmap For Cure -
- Janssen advancing triple combination into Phase 2b clinical trial -
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACHN) announced today that new interim results from a phase 2a study being conducted by Alios BioPharma, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies (Janssen), were published as part of the abstracts released for the upcoming European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Special Conference, September 23 - 24, 2016, in Paris, France.
This ongoing phase 2a study was designed to confirm the required dose and treatment duration for an all-oral combination regimen containing odalasvir (ODV) and AL-335 with or without simeprevir (SMV) for durations of eight or six weeks of treatment in treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
“We are delighted by the significant progress Janssen has made in advancing the all-oral, short-duration treatment regimen of odalasvir, AL-335 and simeprevir and are impressed with the Phase 2a study results being presented. Based on these interim results, Janssen plans to advance a phase 2b program for the triple combination to further understand the potential of this 3DAA drug combination to shorten the duration of treatment for patients suffering from HCV,” commented Dr. Milind Deshpande, President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion. “Despite recent therapeutic advances, we believe there remains a significant unmet need in addressing the global burden of hepatitis C virus in those living with the disease.”
Data included in the abstract were as of the time of submission in July 2016. Updated results, including sustained viral response 12 weeks after completion of therapy (SVR12) for all cohorts, are scheduled to be presented on Friday, September 23, 2016, in an ePoster entitled "Short duration treatment with AL-335 and odalasvir (ODV), with or without simeprevir (SMV), in treatment naïve patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 1 infection." Interim results from cohorts 1-4, summarized in the table below, showed that the triple combination regimen was highly effective and well tolerated in non-cirrhotic patients with GT1 HCV.
Table 1: Interim Phase 2a Results for Cohorts 1 – 4
| Cohort # | Dose | Dosing Duration (weeks) | Number (%) withundetectable* HCV RNA (EOT or SVR) | ||
| AL-335 (mg QD) | ODV (mg) | SMV (mg QD) | |||
| 1 | 400 | 50 QD | 100 | 8 | 20/20 (100%), SVR24 |
| 2 | 800 | 50 QOD | -- | 8 | 18/20 (90%), SVR12 |
| 3 | 800 | 50 QOD | 75 | 8 | 20/20 (100%), SVR4 |
| 4 | 800 | 50 QOD | 75 | 6 | 20/20 (100%), EOT |
*Or below the limit of quantitation (N=2; Cohort 4 only)
EOT: end of treatment; QD: every day; QOD: every other day; RNA: ribonucleic acid
EOT: end of treatment; QD: every day; QOD: every other day; RNA: ribonucleic acid
Summary of Phase 2a Study Design and Interim Results
This phase 2a study was designed to determine the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of ODV and AL-335 with or without SMV, in treatment naïve patients with GT1 or 3 HCV infection for treatment durations of eight weeks or less.
Of the 20 patients treated in cohort 1, who received the triple combination of odalasvir (50mg QD), AL-335 (400mg QD) and simeprevir (100mg QD) for eight weeks (triplet, 8 weeks), 100 percent remained HCV RNA undetectable 24 weeks after completing therapy (SVR24). Additional patients were subsequently enrolled into two further cohorts (3 & 4), where they received adjusted doses of the same triplet combination for either eight or six weeks. In cohort 3 all were HCV RNA negative and remained HCV RNA undetectable 4 weeks after completing therapy (SVR4) and in cohort 4 all were HCV RNA negative (N=18) or below the limit of quantitation (N=2) at end of treatment. Of the 20 patients treated in cohort 2, who received the dual combination of odalasvir (50mg QOD) and AL-335 (800mg QD) for eight weeks (doublet, 8 weeks), 90 percent remained HCV RNA undetectable twelve weeks after completing therapy (SVR12).
All-oral combination regimens, containing odalasvir, AL-335 with or without simeprevir were generally safe and well tolerated. The majority of adverse events (AEs) were mild, most commonly headache, fatigue, and upper respiratory tract infection. In cohort 1, there was a single serious adverse event (Mobitz Type 1 2nd degree atrioventricular block), which was attributed to treatment. This ECG abnormality was not associated with clinical or echocardiographic abnormalities, and resolved following treatment discontinuation. No clinically significant laboratory abnormalities were observed.
Ongoing Phase 2 Development Program
Based upon the interim results from the phase 2a study, which confirmed the required dose for each component and the treatment duration, the triple combination is being advanced into a phase 2b program consisting of once daily odalasvir 25mg, AL-335 800mg, and simeprevir 75mg. The development program will include two multi-center, randomized, open-label studies that will enroll treatment-naive and treatment-experienced non-cirrhotic patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. These studies will be complemented by an expansion of the ongoing phase 2a study focusing on patients with or without compensated cirrhosis and on patients with HCV genotype 2 and 3 infection. The results from the phase 2 program will guide further development.
Further information on this study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov. Study identifier: CT02765490.
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