April 7, 2014

Idenix Announces Promising Clinical Data and Continued Progress in Nucleotide Prodrug Development Programs for the Treatment of Hepatitis C

  • Idenix Reports Positive Proof-of-Concept Data for Lead Nucleotide Prodrug, IDX21437
  • Idenix on Track to Initiate All-Oral Pan-Genotypic Phase II Combination Clinical Study of IDX21437 and Samatasvir in mid-2014
  • Idenix Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of Follow-on Nucleotide Prodrug, IDX21459
  • Idenix to Host Conference Call / Webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET today

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDIX), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, today announced continued progress of the Company's program to develop nucleotide prodrug inhibitors for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Idenix is reporting potent antiviral activity of mean maximum 4.2-4.3 log10 IU/mL reductions for patients infected with HCV genotype 1, 2 or 3 receiving 300 mg once daily of IDX21437 in the seven-day proof-of-concept portion of a phase I/II clinical trial. Based on this progress, the Company's goal is to initiate a combination clinical trial of IDX21437 and samatasvir, a pan-genotypic NS5A inhibitor, in mid-2014. In addition, Idenix has selected a follow-on uridine-based nucleotide prodrug, IDX21459, from its ongoing nucleotide discovery program and initiated enrollment for the healthy volunteer portion of a phase I clinical trial.

"As more all-oral regimens become available to treat hepatitis C, an increased number of patients will be diagnosed and treated. It will be important to have simple, short duration options for our patients. These early data for IDX21437 support its potential to be part of future treatment combinations." said Professor Edward Gane, MD, Deputy Director and Hepatologist, New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand, and a clinical investigator in the IDX21437 proof-of-concept study. "Nucleotide-based treatment combinations are favored because of safety, efficacy, high barrier to resistance and low drug-drug interaction potential and we look forward to seeing further results from studies with IDX21437."

"We are very pleased with these positive data for IDX21437 and we are excited to have two nucleotide prodrug candidates in the clinic," said Ron Renaud, Idenix's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "With the initiation of the phase II study of IDX21437 and samatasvir later this year, we will be one of a few companies with an all-oral, pan-genotypic, nucleotide-based combination approach in the clinic. We believe this regimen has the potential to play a significant role in advancing HCV care for the benefit of patients, physicians and payers."

IDX21437: Topline 7-Day Phase I/II Clinical Results

In January 2014, Idenix initiated the seven-day proof-of-concept portion of a phase I/II clinical trial for IDX21437. The trial completed enrollment of 44 treatment-naïve, genotype (GT) 1, 2 or 3 HCV-infected patients. Patients were randomized to receive once-daily doses of placebo, 50 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg of IDX21437 for seven days. The topline clinical results include:

  • IDX21437 was well-tolerated with no observed pattern of adverse events or laboratory abnormalities.
  • Treatment with IDX21437 exhibited potent pan-genotypic activity in a dose-dependent manner:
  • In GT 1 HCV-infected patients (n=8), the mean maximal viral load reduction was 4.2 log10 IU/mL in the 300 mg arm.
  • The mean maximal viral load reduction of 4.3 log10 IU/mL was achieved in GT 2 and 3 HCV-infected patients in the 300 mg arm (n=10).
  • More detailed findings are expected to be presented at a future scientific meeting.
  • Based on these findings, the 300 mg dose of IDX21437 has been chosen for the anticipated phase II combination study with samatasvir.

IDX21459: Phase I Clinical Program

In April 2014, Idenix initiated enrollment for the healthy volunteer portion of a phase I clinical trial of IDX21459 in Europe. This portion of the study is expected to enroll approximately 50 healthy volunteers and will evaluate once-daily doses of IDX21459 ranging from 10 mg - 300 mg. The proof-of-concept portion of the study is expected to enroll a total of 40 treatment-naïve, genotype 1 HCV-infected patients who will receive once-daily doses of placebo, 50 - 300 mg of IDX21459 for seven days. IDX21459 has shown a favorable preclinical profile including potent, pan-genotypic activity and favorable safety with respect to cardiac, mitochondrial and genotoxicity assessments.

Additional Nucleotide Candidates

Idenix's primary efforts in nucleotide development will continue to focus on its lead candidate, IDX21437, and follow-on prodrug candidate, IDX21459, as well as earlier-stage nucleotide prodrugs. An important objective for the discovery program is to identify nucleotides offering distinct resistance profiles that can be combined with one of the Company's current nucleotide clinical candidates to treat HCV. Idenix also announced today that the Company has elected not to continue its clinical development program for HCV nucleotide prodrug, IDX20963, previously placed on clinical hold by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

Idenix management will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET today. To access the call, please dial (877) 640-9809 (U.S./Canada) or (914) 495-8528 (International) and enter passcode 26004979. A live webcast will be available through the Investor section of the Idenix website at www.idenix.com under "Events & Presentations". The archived webcast will be available for two weeks following the call on the Idenix website.

ABOUT IDX21437

IDX21437, Idenix's lead uridine-based nucleotide prodrug inhibitor, has completed the single-dose and seven-day proof-of-concept portions of a phase I/II clinical trial. Extensive preclinical testing for IDX21437 has demonstrated favorable antiviral activity across genotypes 1-6 and a safety profile which supported advancement into clinical trials. Based on this progress, the Company's goal is to initiate an Idenix-sponsored combination clinical trial of IDX21437 and samatasvir in mid-2014.

ABOUT SAMATASVIR

Samatasvir is an NS5A inhibitor with low picomolar, pan-genotypic antiviral activity in vitro. To date, samatasvir has been safe and well-tolerated after single and multiple doses of up to 150 mg in healthy volunteers up to 14 days duration, and in HCV-infected patients up to 12 weeks duration. Samatasvir has demonstrated potent pan-genotypic antiviral activity in HCV-infected patients with mean maximal viral load reductions up to approximately 4.0 log10 IU/mL across HCV genotypes 1-4 in a proof-of-concept, three-day monotherapy study.

Under a non-exclusive collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Idenix is evaluating all-oral, direct-acting antiviral HCV combination regimens including samatasvir, simeprevir (TMC435), a once-daily protease inhibitor jointly developed by Janssen R&D Ireland and Medivir AB, and TMC647055/r, a once-daily non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor boosted with low-dose ritonavir being developed by Janssen. In this program, Idenix is conducting two ongoing phase II 12-week clinical trials, HELIX-1 and HELIX-2.

ABOUT HEPATITIS C

Hepatitis C virus is a common blood-borne pathogen infecting three to four million people worldwide annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 150 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HCV, representing a nearly 5-fold greater prevalence than human immunodeficiency virus.

ABOUT IDENIX

Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a biopharmaceutical Company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases. Idenix's current focus is on the treatment of patients with hepatitis C infection. For further information about Idenix, please refer to www.idenix.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to the statements regarding the Company's future business and financial performance. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "expect," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "will," and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements, as are expressed or implied statements with respect to the Company's potential pipeline candidates, including any expressed or implied statements regarding the efficacy and safety of samatasvir, IDX21437, IDX21459 or any other drug candidate; the successful development of novel combinations of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of HCV; and the likelihood and success of any future clinical trials involving samatasvir, IDX21437, IDX21459 or our other drug candidates. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following: there can be no guarantees that the Company will advance any clinical product candidate or other component of its potential pipeline to the clinic, to the regulatory process or to commercialization; uncertainties relating to, or unsuccessful results of, clinical trials, including additional data relating to the ongoing clinical trials evaluating its product candidates; and the Company's ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for its product candidates and its discoveries. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These and other risks which may impact management's expectations are described in greater detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in any subsequent periodic or current report that the Company files with the SEC.

All forward-looking statements reflect the Company's estimates only as of the date of this release (unless another date is indicated) and should not be relied upon as reflecting the Company's views, expectations or beliefs at any date subsequent to the date of this release. While Idenix may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if the Company's estimates change.

CONTACT: Idenix Pharmaceuticals Contact:
Teri Dahlman (617) 995-9807

Source: Idenix Pharmaceuticals

Source

Gilead Announces U.S. FDA Priority Review Designation for Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir Fixed-Dose Combination Tablet for Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Infection

PRESS RELEASE  April 7, 2014, 8:35 a.m. ET

-- Final FDA Decision Anticipated by October 10, 2014 --

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 07, 2014--

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review to the company's New Drug Application (NDA) for a once-daily fixed-dose combination of the NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir (LDV) 90 mg and the nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir (SOF) 400 mg for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in adults. Gilead filed the NDA for LDV/SOF on February 10, 2014, and the FDA has set a target action date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of October 10, 2014.

The FDA has also assigned LDV/SOF a Breakthrough Therapy designation. The FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy designation and priority review status to investigational medicines that may offer major advances in treatment over existing options. The data submitted in the NDA are from three Phase 3 studies, ION-1, ION-2 and ION-3, and support the use of LDV/SOF in adults with genotype 1 HCV infection, with a treatment duration of eight or 12 weeks depending on prior treatment history and whether they have cirrhosis. Approximately 75 percent of people infected with HCV in the United States have the genotype 1 strain of the virus.

A marketing application for LDV/SOF is also under review in the European Union, and was validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on March 27, 2014. The agency has accepted Gilead's request for accelerated assessment of LDV/SOF, a designation that is granted to new medicines of major public health interest. If accepted, accelerated assessment could shorten the EMA's review time of LDV/SOF by two months, although it does not guarantee a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use or approval by the European Commission.

LDV/SOF is an investigational product and its safety and efficacy have not yet been established.

SOF as a single agent was approved by the FDA under the tradename Sovaldi(R) on December 6, 2013 and by the European Commission on January 17, 2014.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company's mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead has operations in North and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Forward-Looking Statement

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 factors, including the risk that the FDA, EMA and other regulatory agencies may not approve LDV/SOF fixed-dose combination in the currently anticipated timelines or at all, and that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on its use. Further, additional studies of LDV/SOF, including results from the 24-week arms of ION-1, may produce unfavorable results. As a result, Gilead may not be able to successfully commercialize LDV/SOF, and may make a strategic decision to discontinue its development if, for example, the market for the product fails to materialize as expected. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described in detail in Gilead's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

U.S. full prescribing information for Sovaldi is available at www.gilead.com.

Sovaldi is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.

For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company's website at www.gilead.com, follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000.

Source

Bristol-Myers Squibb Submits NDAs for Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir to US FDA for the Treatment of Hepatitis C

U.S. application submission marks third major daclatasvir regulatory milestone globally, follows E.U. and Japan

Monday, April 7, 2014 8:00 am EDT

PRINCETON, N.J..--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) "These FDA submissions represent a major step towards offering daclatasvir-based regimens to U.S. HCV patients, many of whom continue to have high unmet medical needs"

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today that they have submitted new drug applications (NDAs) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the investigational products daclatasvir (DCV), an NS5A replication complex inhibitor, and asunaprevir (ASV), a NS3 protease inhibitor. The data submitted in the NDAs support the use of DCV+ASV in patients with genotype 1b hepatitis C (HCV). The DCV NDA also seeks approval for use of this compound in combination with other agents for multiple genotypes. The submissions are subject to FDA review for acceptance for filing.

“These FDA submissions represent a major step towards offering daclatasvir-based regimens to U.S. HCV patients, many of whom continue to have high unmet medical needs,” said Brian Daniels, MD, senior vice president, Global Development and Medical Affairs, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We are excited to have achieved this milestone and, looking forward, will continue to innovate and invest in daclatasvir in a range of patient types and regimens.”

These submissions follow the recent announcement that the FDA granted the investigational DCV Dual Regimen (DCV+ASV) Breakthrough Therapy Designation. In 2013, the investigational all-oral 3DAA Regimen (daclatasvir/asunaprevir/BMS-791325) also received Breakthrough Therapy Designation, and the company anticipates submitting this regimen for FDA review in Q1 2015.

In January 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated the company’s marketing authorization application for the use of DCV in combination with other agents for the treatment of adults with HCV with compensated liver disease, including genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, and this application is under accelerated review. In addition, NDAs for DCV and ASV are under priority review by Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency for patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b, classified as either interferon-ineligible naïve/intolerant or non-responders to interferon and ribavirin.

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver and is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood and blood products. Approximately 170 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C, with an estimated 2.7–3.9 million chronically infected in the United States. Up to 90 percent of those infected with hepatitis C will not spontaneously clear the virus and will become chronically infected. According to the World Health Organization, up to 20 percent of people with chronic hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis; of those, up to 25 percent may progress to liver cancer.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb’s HCV Portfolio

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s research efforts are focused on advancing late-stage compounds to deliver the most value to patients with hepatitis C. At the core of our pipeline is daclatasvir (DCV), an investigational NS5A replication complex inhibitor that has been studied in more than 5,500 patients as part of multiple direct-acting antiviral (DAA) based combination therapies. DCV has shown a low drug-drug interaction profile, supporting its potential use in multiple treatment regimens and in people with co-morbidities.

DCV is currently being studied in the ongoing Phase III UNITY Program, where it is being investigated as part of an all-oral 3DAA Regimen (daclatasvir/asunaprevir/BMS-791325). Study populations include non-cirrhotic naïve, cirrhotic naïve and previously treated patients. The 3DAA Regimen is being studied as a fixed-dose-combination treatment with twice daily dosing.

Daclatasvir is also being investigated in combination with sofosbuvir in high unmet need patients, such as pre- and post-transplant patients, HIV/HCV co-infected patients, and patients with genotype 3, as part of the ongoing Phase III ALLY Program.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.bms.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that clinical trials of these compounds will support regulatory filings, or that DCV or any other compounds mentioned in this release will receive regulatory approval or, if approved, that they will become commercially successful products. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Bristol-Myers Squibb
Media:
Carrie Fernandez,
Office: +1-609-252-4831; Cell: +1-215-859-2605
carrie.fernandez@bms.com
or
Investors:
Ranya Dajani, 609-252-5330, ranya.dajani@bms.com
Ryan Asay, 609-252-5020, ryan.asay@bms.com

Source