Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: Intelence, TMC278, and with-food dosing

Your reply shows the importance of being grammatically precise! In #msg-52480947 I said, “If Intelence did not have to be dosed BID and with food, JNJ would probably never have bothered to develop TMC278.”

What I should have said instead is, “If Intelence did not have to be dosed BID with food, JNJ would probably never have bothered to develop TMC278.”

The difference between the two sentences is only one word, but the message is significantly changed. I.e., Intelence has one consequential dosing drawback, BID dosing with food, rather than two drawbacks consisting of BID dosing and with-food dosing.

In other words, a with-food requirement is not a big deal as long as the dosing frequency is qD. However, a with-food requirement for a BID drug is an even bigger impediment to commercial success than BID dosing in general.

p.s. The side-effect profile of Intelence is considered very good compared to other drugs in this class, so I don’t consider it a material commercial drawback.