- Dosing Initiated in Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Antiviral Activity of ACH-3422, NS5B Uridine-Analog Nucleotide Prodrug -
- Initiated Phase 2 Study Evaluating ACH-3102, Second-Generation NS5A Inhibitor, With Sofosbuvir for 8 Weeks of Treatment or Less in Genotype 1 HCV Treatment-Naïve Patients -
NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACHN) today announced that is has begun dosing study participants with ACH-3422, Achillion's proprietary uridine-analog nucleotide inhibitor, in a Phase 1 clinical trial. ACH-3422 is being developed for use in combination regimens to treat chronic hepatitis C viral infection (HCV). Achillion also announced the initiation of dosing in a Phase 2 pilot study evaluating ACH-3102, Achillion's second-generation NS5A inhibitor, in combination with sofosbuvir for eight and potentially six weeks of treatment for patients with chronic genotype 1 treatment-naïve HCV.
"We believe that a nucleotide inhibitor and NS5A combination is the cornerstone for pan-genotypic commercially competitive regimens, having demonstrated high response rates and short duration of therapy. With the addition of a third direct-acting antiviral such as a protease inhibitor, we believe we can potentially shorten therapy to less than eight weeks," commented Milind Deshpande, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion.
ACH-3422: Phase 1 Study in Healthy Subjects and Proof-of-Concept in HCV-infected Patients
Achillion is conducting a Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of ACH-3422. Cohorts of healthy subjects will be enrolled at each dose level to receive a single-ascending dose followed by multiple-ascending doses for 14 days. At each dose level, patients with treatment-naïve genotype 1 HCV will receive 7 days of ACH-3422 to assess safety and antiviral activity. The starting dose in this trial will be 50 mg of ACH-3422 with the study expected to enroll a total of approximately 100 healthy volunteers and HCV-infected patients. Preliminary results, including safety and antiviral activity, are expected to be reported during the fall of 2014. This study is being conducted outside of the United States.
Dr. Deshpande further commented, "ACH-3422 has been rigorously evaluated in preclinical studies, which we believe support clinical advancement of ACH-3422. Preclinical data indicate that ACH-3422 has potency comparable to sofosbuvir against GT1 HCV, and has potency up to 7-fold higher against GT3 HCV. As we work to complete the healthy subject and HCV-infected patient cohorts in this ACH-3422 study, we are simultaneously exploring the characteristics of ACH-3102 in combination with sofosbuvir in a pilot trial that will evaluate an eight week or shorter treatment regimen and that we expect will be highly informative for initiation of combination studies of ACH-3422 and ACH-3102. We are eager to begin reporting preliminary results from these two programs starting late this summer and through the remainder of this year."
ACH-3102: Phase 2 Pilot Study Evaluating 8-week treatment in combination with sofosbuvir for genotype 1 treatment-naïve HCV
Achillion is conducting a Phase 2, open-label, randomized, partial-crossover study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of eight weeks or six weeks of ACH-3102 and sofosbuvir in treatment-naïve genotype 1 HCV-infected patients. The primary objective for the study is determination of sustained viral response 12 weeks (SVR12) after the completion of therapy. Twelve patients will be enrolled and receive eight weeks of treatment consisting of 50 mg of ACH-3102 and 400 mg of sofosbuvir administered once daily. The trial protocol also allows for the enrollment of additional HCV-infected patients who may be eligible to receive six weeks of treatment consisting of 50 mg of ACH-3102 and 400 mg of sofosbuvir administered once daily. Preliminary results from the eight-week treatment duration cohort are anticipated during the summer of 2014. This study is being conducted outside the United States.
David Apelian, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer commented, "Our focus is to safely and expeditiously advance our all-oral regimens for the treatment of HCV. The initiation of our first clinical study with our nucleotide inhibitor ACH-3422 is an important milestone for the Achillion portfolio. We expect that evaluation of our NS5A inhibitor ACH-3102 in combination with sofosbuvir will provide significant insights for our ultimate use of ACH-3422 and ACH-3102 in combination. Furthermore, we believe the breadth of our portfolio, which includes our protease inhibitors, could enable us to potentially develop commercially-competitive regimens that can be safe, effective, ribavirin-free and that can be used for eight weeks or less to potentially cure HCV."
About HCV
The hepatitis C virus is the most common cause of viral hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver. It is currently estimated that more than 150 million people are infected with HCV worldwide including more than 5 million people in the United States. Three-fourths of the HCV patient population is undiagnosed; it is a silent epidemic and a major global health threat. Chronic hepatitis, if left untreated, can lead to permanent liver damage that can result in the development of liver cancer, liver failure or death. Few therapeutic options currently exist for the treatment of HCV infection.
About Achillion Pharmaceuticals
Achillion is an innovative pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing important new treatments to patients with infectious disease. Achillion's discovery, clinical development, and commercial teams have advanced multiple novel product candidates with proven mechanisms of action into studies and toward the market. Achillion is focused on solutions for the most challenging problems in infectious disease including HCV and resistant bacterial infections. For more information on Achillion Pharmaceuticals, please visit www.achillion.com or call 1-203-624-7000.
\Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to: the Company's expectations that the phase I study of ACH-3422 inform the potential initiation of combination studies of ACH-3422 and ACH-3102; the Company's expectations that it may report preliminary results from its Phase 1 program during the fall of 2014 and Phase 2 pilot study beginning in late summer 2014; the Company's goal to safely and expeditiously advance its all-oral regimens for the treatment of HCV and its expectation that the breadth of its portfolio could enable it to potentially develop commercially-competitive regimens that can be safe, effective, ribavirin-free and that can be used for eight weeks or less to potentially cure HCV. Achillion may use words such as "expect," "anticipate," "project," "intend," "plan," "aim," "believe," "seek," " estimate," "can," "focus," "will," and "may" and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things Achillion's ability to: demonstrate in any current and future clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and combinability of its drug candidates; advance the preclinical and clinical development of its drug candidates, including ACH-3422, ACH-3102 and its protease inhibitors, under the timelines it projects in current and future clinical trials; satisfactorily respond to the clinical hold placed on sovaprevir by the FDA; obtain and maintain necessary regulatory approvals; obtain and maintain patent protection for its drug candidates and the freedom to operate under third party intellectual property; establish commercial manufacturing arrangements; identify, enter into and maintain collaboration agreements with appropriate third-parties; compete successfully with other companies that are seeking to develop improved therapies for the treatment of HCV; manage expenses; manage litigation; raise the substantial additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives; and successfully execute on its business strategies. These and other risks are described in the reports filed by Achillion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and its subsequent SEC filings.
In addition, any forward-looking statement in this press release represents Achillion's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Achillion disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.
Contact:
Company Contact:
Glenn Schulman
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel. (203) 624-7000
gschulman@achillion.com
Media:
Emily Johnson
Ogilvy PR
Tel. (212)880-5316
emily.johnson@ogilvy.com
Investors:
Mary Kay Fenton
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel. (203) 624-7000
mfenton@achillion.com
Investors:
Tricia Truehart
The Trout Group, LLC
Tel. (646) 378-2953
ttruehart@troutgroup.com
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