Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

So why are these trials being designed to avoid the rash when rib is in both arms?

Something got lost in the translation!

The original quiz question (#msg-37450918) was about trial-design wrinkles in the phase-3 Telaprevir program to lessen the impact of Telaprevir-induced rash, not to lessen the impact of ribavirin-induced rash.

Ribavirin-induced rash is a necessary evil inasmuch as ribavirin has been found to be essential for efficacy (at least in trials where there are fewer than two direct antivirals). Fortunately, ribavirin-induced rash is a manageable side effect; when it occurs, it can sometimes be finessed by a dose reduction in midstream.