VRUS—Fibrosis and vitamin D as independent SVR correlates could explain the strong results for PSI-7977. The trials were in healthier New Zealand patients.
Perhaps; on the other hand, New Zealand is not especially close to the equator, so one would not necessarily expect vitamin-D levels there to be high throughout the year.
This brings up another issue: are HCV trials in non-tropical regions more apt to be successful if the treatment portion of the trial occurs in summer?