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Intermune Says Lower Doses of Hepatitis C Drug Shows Promise

Reuters Health - Jan. 07, 2008
http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contenttype=sentryarticle&contentvalue=1670071&channelID=31

BANGALORE (Reuters) - InterMune Inc on Monday said lower dosages of its experimental hepatitis C drug show a favorable safety and performance profile in an early stage trial, sending shares up more than 18 percent.

The biotech company, which is developing the drug with Switzerland's Roche Holding, is studying the effect of multiple doses of HCV protease inhibitor compound, ITMN-191.

The first two dosage cohorts with total daily doses of up to 300mg achieved the goals of viral kinetic performance, safety and tolerability, and based on the results the company said it would continue dose escalation to further evaluate the drug.

Intermune also said it plans to submit an application with European authorities to begin a 14-day, triple combination study of ITMN-191 with anti-viral pill ribavirin and Roche's Pegasys in the second quarter.