Biotech Values

[tinkershaw]

ITMN-191's promise were as follows: BID dosing (ie, 2x a day vs. 3 x a day), fewer side effects due to more specific action of the drug vs. telaprevir, and greater efficacy. In addition, Roche has started plans to test ITMN-191 without interferon, beating VRTX to the punch (VRTX's acquisition probably has to do with the fact that companies like Roche and IDIX were not going to partner their polymerase and VRTX needed to keep up).

However, based upon the current treatment paradigm, it remains to be seen as BID dosing and fewer, less severe side effects. The latter is particularly important because if ITMN-191, all things being equal, is equally as effective as telaprevir and boceprevir, the SVR rate will be much higher for ITMN-191 if the side effects are less frequent and less severe due to the intent to treat (ITT) framework used in the trials.

Fewer side effects, less severe side effects, equal efficacy equals greater SVR numbers as there will be fewer dropouts.

Too early to tell if ITMN-191 will have fewer side effects. Its efficacy so far is comparable to telaprevir.

Tinker