“A few polymerase inhibitors are in development: two in clinical trials. But there is no data
yet and speculation scuttle-butt in the halls here was that these drugs may have limited antiviral activity.” (
AASLD Conference: New Therapeutic Strategies for Hepatitis C Chicago, June 15-16, 2001 Reported by Jules Levin).
Isis Pharmaceuticals of Carlsbad, CA, is in Phase II trials with a drug that tries to interfere with a different part of hepatitis C.
Merck & Co, and Tularik are formulating gene therapies aimed at inhibiting HCV RNA polymerase (
), as is Biocryst (
).
Japan Tobacco’s polymerase inhibitor is in Phase 2 clinical trials.
ViroPharma, together with Wyeth, has begun a clinical trial of its product.
Idenix Pharmaceuticals has begun clinical trials.
Rigel Pharmaceuticals plans to start a polymerase inhibitor trial this year (Pollack, A., NY Times 3/11/2003 H.I.V. Lessons Used in Hepatitis C Treatment).
ViroLogic, Inc. was awarded a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, to develop a Hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug susceptibility assay for its polymerase inhibitor (/PRNewswire 9/3/03),
In early trials, NM107 and NM283 are active in chimps with HCV. (
).
XTL Pharma is studying two molecules in their Trimera mouse that merit further investigation: BC2125 and BC2329 (
, Reported by Jules Levin, 54th Annual AASLD, Oct 25-29, 2003).
