May 26 2011
Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS) announced today the initiation of a Phase 2a trial investigating the combination of Pharmasset's PSI-7977, a nucleotide polymerase inhibitor, and BMS-790052, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's (NYSE: BMY) NS5A replication complex inhibitor, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV). This trial is the result of a clinical collaboration agreement between Pharmasset and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced in January 2011.
"We are happy to announce the initiation of this important combination trial," stated William Symonds, Pharmasset's Senior Vice President of Clinical Pharmacology and Translational Medicine. "Recent data from Bristol-Myers Squibb's combination study demonstrated that individuals with HCV can be cured without the traditional interferon and ribavirin, but only if two potent DAAs are used and drug resistance is avoided. We believe Pharmasset's nucleotide analogs have demonstrated potent antiviral activity and a high barrier to resistance and therefore have the potential to be the future backbone of interferon-free treatment."
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