Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

(ENTA)—JNJ halts all RSV trials:

https://www.biocentury.com/bc-extra/company-news/2018-10-16/jj-stalls-development-antiviral-alios-deal

A J&J spokesperson told BioCentury on Tuesday that the company placed a voluntary hold on all clinical trials of lumicitabine in June due to new preclinical data and the need for additional preclinical trials. The hold…affected two Phase IIb trials to treat adults with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)…and a Phase IIb pediatric trial. All three studies have now been closed, the spokesperson said.

The pharma will decide whether to conduct further clinical trials of the oral RSV nucleoside analog after completing an analysis of the data, according to the spokesperson. J&J "will monitor the remaining $900 million intangible asset for further impairment," according to a regulatory filing Tuesday.

At the time of the Alios takeout [#msg-106746762], J&J's Bill Hait told BioCentury the company considered RSV a priority and found Alios' Phase II data especially compelling.