Progress in Anadys Pharmaceuticals' Phase II study of ANA598 announced

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDS) today announced that ANA598 dosing has been completed in the first dose cohort, 200 mg bid, in an ongoing Phase II study of ANA598 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (SOC) in HCV patients.  Anadys expects to receive 12-week safety and antiviral response data for the 200 mg bid cohort in the first quarter of 2010.  Anadys also announced that all patients have commenced dosing in the second dose cohort, 400 mg bid.  With patient enrollment in this cohort completed, Anadys has accelerated the expected timing to receive 4-week safety and antiviral response at 400 mg bid to the end of the first quarter of 2010 and continues to expect 12-week safety and antiviral response data in the second quarter of 2010.  

"We are very pleased with the rapid progress of this study and appreciate the commitment of everyone involved in the trial," said Steve Worland, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Anadys.  "With continuing positive data, we hope to see ANA598 established as the leading non-nucleoside in HCV, suitable for combination with current standard of care as well as with other direct antivirals currently in development."  

Phase II Combination Study

Anadys recently reported positive initial antiviral response and safety results from the 200 mg bid dose cohort based on a planned interim analysis of data at four weeks.  In the group receiving ANA598 added to SOC, there was a steady increase in the percentage of patients with undetectable levels of virus from week 1 through week 4, with 56% of patients achieving undetectable levels of virus at week 4 (defined as Rapid Virological Response or RVR), compared to 20% of patients receiving placebo plus SOC achieving an RVR.  No patient receiving ANA598 experienced viral rebound (defined as >1 log(10) increase from a prior measurement) through week 4.  ANA598 also demonstrated a favorable safety profile through four weeks.  There were no serious adverse events reported and the profile of adverse events reported was as expected for patients receiving SOC alone, with comparable rates observed between the ANA598 and placebo arms.  

In the ongoing Phase II study, treatment-naive genotype 1 patients are to receive ANA598 or placebo in combination with Pegasys® (peginterferon alfa-2a) and Copegus® (ribavirin, USP) for 12 weeks at dose levels of 200 mg or 400 mg both given twice daily (bid), each with a loading dose of 800 mg bid on day one.  After week 12, patients are to continue receiving SOC alone.  Patients who achieve undetectable levels of virus at weeks 4 and 12 will be randomized to stop all treatment at week 24 or 48.  The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients who achieve undetectable levels of virus at week 12 (defined as complete Early Virological Response, or cEVR).  Additional endpoints include safety and tolerability as well as the proportion of patients with undetectable levels of virus at week 4 (defined as Rapid Virological Response, or RVR).  Patients will be followed for 24 weeks after stopping therapy to determine the rate of Sustained Virological Response, or SVR.  Approximately 90 patients are planned to be enrolled in this study – with approximately 30 patients receiving ANA598 and 15 receiving placebo at each dose level.  The study is being managed by the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) under the leadership of John McHutchison, M.D. and is being conducted at a number of clinical sites in the United States.