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[DewDiligence]

BMY Reports Phase-2 Data on BMS-790052 + SoC

[This trial, which tested BMY’s NS5A inhibitor with SoC only, should not be confused with the higher-profile studies in which BMS-790052 has been combined with BMY’s PI, BMS-650032 with/without SoC (#msg-61651772) or with VRUS’ nuke, PSI-7977 (#msg-58596259).]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Investigational-DirectActing-bw-3309843378.html?x=0&.v=1

›Investigational Direct-Acting Antiviral BMS-790052 Plus PEG-Interferon Alfa and Ribavirin Achieved Up to 92% Sustained Virologic Response in Phase II Dose-Ranging Study of Treatment-Naïve Hepatitis C Patients

Adverse event profile of regimen containing BMS-790052 was consistent with that of treatment with PEG-Interferon alfa and ribavirin alone

March 31, 2011, 10:31 am EDT

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today announced results from a Phase II clinical trial in which treatment with the investigational direct-acting antiviral (DAA) BMS-790052, an NS5A replication complex inhibitor, in combination with PEG-Interferon alfa and ribavirin (RBV), achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) in up to 92% of treatment-naïve patients chronically infected with hepatitis C (HCV) genotype 1 (10 mg dose arm, n=12). Adverse events and serious adverse events were consistent with those reported in the PEG-Interferon alfa and ribavirin arm and were comparable across all doses of BMS-790052. These data were reported today for the first time in a late-breaker poster session at the International Liver Congress, the 46th annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Berlin, Germany.

“There currently exists a medical need for new medicines or new combinations of medicines for hepatitis C patients as many hepatitis C patients have limited success on the currently available treatments,” said Stanislas Pol, MD, PhD, Professor of Hepatology at Université Paris V (René Descartes), Paris, France and head of the Hepatology unit at Cochin Hospital, Paris, France. “The results of this study warrant further clinical investigation of adding Bristol-Myers Squibb’s investigational compound BMS-790052 to the current medicines to evaluate its potential to address this unmet treatment need.”

Study Results

The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients with extended rapid virologic response (eRVR) defined as undetectable viral load (HCV RNA < 10 IU/mL) at both Weeks 4 and 12. BMS-790052 plus PEG-interferon alfa and ribavirin achieved higher rates of SVR12 compared to PEG-interferon alfa and ribavirin alone, across all BMS-790052 treatment groups [BMS-790052: 60 mg: 83% (10/12 patients), 10 mg: 92% (11/12 patients), 3 mg: 42% (5/12 patients); PEG-interferon alfa/RBV: 25% (3/12 patients)].

Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) were comparable across study arms and were consistent with the safety profile of PEG-Interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy. Four patients discontinued due to AEs in the BMS-790052 60 mg group for a diverse set of adverse events. All four patients had undetectable viral load at the time of study discontinuation and three of these patients achieved SVR12. No new on-treatment SAEs were reported beyond study week 24.

Grade 3 to 4 adverse events for BMS-790052 treatment groups and placebo were BMS-790052: 60 mg: 33.3%, 10 mg: 25%, 3 mg: 8.3%; PEG-interferon alfa/RBV: 41.7%. Two patients (one receiving 3 mg BMS-790052 and one receiving 60 mg BMS-790052) experienced anemia (hemoglobin <9 g/dL). Erythropoietin use was comparable between BMS-790052 treatment groups (one to three patients per arm) and the placebo treatment group (two patients). The use of filgrastim (G-CSF) in the study groups was: BMS-790052: 60 mg: 0%, 10 mg: 25%, 3 mg: 16.7%; PEG-interferon alfa/RBV: 16.7%. Other adverse events, occurring in at least four patients (33.3%) in any cohort include: fatigue (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 50%,10 mg: 50%, 3 mg: 58.3%; placebo: 75%), neutropenia (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 16.7%,10 mg: 33.3%, 3 mg: 25%; placebo: 41.7%), nausea (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 33.3%,10 mg: 33.3%, 3 mg: 41.7%; placebo: 50%), vomiting (BMS-790052 60 mg: 33.3%, 10 mg: 8.3%, 3 mg: 16.7%; placebo: 0%), and headache (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 25%, 10 mg: 75%, 3 mg: 58.3%; placebo: 25%).

About the Study

This double-blind study randomized 48 treatment-naïve HCV genotype 1-infected patients 1:1:1:1 (n=12/arm) to receive one of three doses of BMS-790052 (3 mg, 10 mg, or 60 mg) or placebo once daily, in combination with PEG-interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients with extended rapid virologic response (eRVR) defined as undetectable viral load (HCV RNA < 10 IU/mL) at both Weeks 4 and 12. Primary endpoint data were previously reported at EASL 2010 in Vienna, Austria.

About BMS-790052

Discovered by Bristol-Myers Squibb through a genomics approach, BMS-790052 is part of a portfolio of investigational compounds that the company is developing for the treatment of hepatitis C. BMS-790052 is the first NS5A replication complex inhibitor to be investigated in HCV clinical trials. BMS-790052 is currently in Phase II development.‹