Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX): IDX184 has been selected as the lead HCV...

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Monday, 01/07/2008 6:26:46 PM

Monday, January 07, 2008 6:26:46 PM

IDX184 has been selected as the lead HCV candidate.
This PR has some details and we will probably get
more at the JPM webcast tomorrow.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080107/nem076.html?.v=28

>>
Idenix Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on Hepatitis C Pipeline at JP Morgan Healthcare Conference

Monday January 7, 9:07 am ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX ), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral and other infectious diseases, today announced an update on the company's HCV pipeline, including promising second-generation polymerase and protease inhibitor compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C. This update will be presented on Tuesday, January 8, at 2:30 p.m. PT at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Second-Generation Nucleoside Polymerase Inhibitor Program

Idenix's preclinical HCV nucleoside polymerase inhibitor program comprises two novel nucleotide prodrugs, IDX184 and IDX102. This program is based on Idenix's proprietary liver-targeting technology, which delivers high levels of nucleoside triphosphate in the liver, potentially maximizing drug efficacy and limiting systemic side effects.

In preclinical studies using an HCV replicon assay, IDX184 exhibited 10 times greater potency than nucleosides currently in clinical development. In a 7-day preclinical toxicology study of IDX184, no toxicities, including gastrointestinal or hematological, were observed in monkeys at doses greater than or equal to 600 mg/kg/day. In HCV genotype-1 infected chimpanzees, once- daily oral administration of 10 mg/kg of either nucleotide prodrug produced a rapid and potent inhibition of HCV replication with mean viral load reductions ranging from 1.5 log(10) with IDX102 to 2.5-4.0 log(10) with IDX184 after 4 days of dosing. IDX184 has been selected as the company's lead candidate from this program and clinical data are expected in 2008.

Novel Macrocyclic Protease Inhibitor Program

Idenix is evaluating multiple scaffolds in its protease inhibitor discovery program. Compounds from two of these scaffolds have demonstrated potent and selective antiviral activity in in vitro preclinical studies to date. Several compounds have demonstrated subnanomolar potency against the HCV NS3 protease target, single nanomolar potency in the HCV replicon, and no inhibition of 8 human cellular proteases. Initial preclinical pharmacokinetic evaluation of these compounds suggests the potential for once-daily or twice- daily dosing. Clinical candidates from this program have been selected and IND-enabling toxicology studies are ongoing.

"Our second-generation HCV drug candidates could offer improvements over direct-acting compounds currently in clinical development," said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, Idenix's chairman and chief executive officer. "For example, in preclinical studies our second-generation polymerase inhibitor, IDX184, delivered multi-log viral load reductions in HCV genotype-1 infected chimpanzees in just 4 days -- on par with the antiviral activity reported to date from protease inhibitors currently in development."

Sommadossi continued, "In 2008, we look forward to advancing our nucleotide prodrug and macrocyclic protease inhibitor programs into the clinic to determine whether the promising preclinical data generated to date bears out in HCV-infected patients. If successful, the combination of our second- generation polymerase and protease inhibitors could lead to very exciting changes in the HCV treatment paradigm."

2007 Financial Guidance

Idenix today reaffirmed prior 2007 financial guidance of ending 2007 with between $100 million and $110 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The company's 2007 financial results have not yet been finalized or audited.
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