Biotech Values

[oc631]

Isn't the goal likely to get to three DAAs, at most, in future HCV therapy? How competitive will a four drug HCV combo be in the face of fairly effective three, or perhaps two, drug HCV combos assuming efficacy/safety is reasonably comparable?

Of course fewer drugs would be a net positive. Removing ribavirin from the mix would certainly make other oral offerings more tolerable with the potential for QD dosing. Investor focus should be centered on who will be first to market in GT1 oral. If GS-7977/Riba lacks potency in GT1 treatment-naive patients this could be a close race.

Data from the GS-7977/BMS-052 combo study will be released in a couple of weeks. Even if the data is good it's unclear if the companies are willing to work together. If we see impressive data my feeling is GILD will start testing GS-7977 with their in-house NS5A and BMY will test BMS-052 with BMS-189.

Separately, does anyone take the success of 450, the PI, as part of this combo as bearish for the other 2nd gen HCV PI candidates such as those from Medivir and ACHN?

ABT-450 needs ritonavir boosting so in that respect there's room for improvement.