Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: IFN use in HCV

…assuming the 85% [SVR rate] is achieved (a big IF), a percentage of failures will seek retreatment, and i would presume most would need an agent with novel MOA given resistance issues. it seems reasonable to think many of these failures will then go on an INF-based regimen.

Initially, an ifn-based regimen will be the only option (other than nothing at all) for second-line patients who failed a non-ifn cocktail in the first line. However, in due course we’ll probably see the adoption of a variety of oral HCV cocktails (as has happened in HIV), so that patients who failed one oral cocktail in the first line can try another oral cocktail in the second line.

In other words, the time window for IFN-Lambda and Locteron to pick up a bolus of second-line patients who failed a non-ifn cocktail in the first line could turn out to be relatively brief.