Achillion’s patent application published Oct. 2014 indicates ACH 3422 is a deuterated hybrid between Gilead’s Sovaldi and older 2’-hydroxy nucleosides patented by Idenix (Merck). source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/3179146-dubious-ip-makes-achillion-pharma-a-stock-to-avoid ... so actually Merck might be the only company able to use ACH 3422 from a patent stand point ;) JNJ relies on Alios' nuke + Achillions next gen NS5a inhibitor ACH-3102 (which is really some asset)!