Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: HCV and future combos

Treatment with immunomodulators to “mop up” viral remnants following direct-antiviral therapy is an approach that has a lot of currency in the field. VRTX is testing a treatment regimen in phase-2 to see how effective this idea is (#msg-10822804): VX-950 will be given for 12 weeks followed by SoC treatment without VX-950 for an additional 36 weeks.

However, Josh Boger of VRTX said on a recent CC that he thinks this treatment plan is probably superfluous; VRTX is going ahead with the approach not because they think it has merit, but rather because outside consultants (and perhaps the FDA) told them they ought to investigate it.

Regardless of how this approach turns out, it’s unlikely that immunomodulators such as the candidates from COLY and ANDS will be able to replace direct antivirals during the initial stages of therapy. Thus, the drugs from these companies are not true competitors to the protease inhibitors and polymerase inhibitors. Regards, Dew