Achillion Pharmaceuticals has reported positive top-line results from its ongoing Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating ACH-1625 in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
The results showed that 75-81% of patients treated with ACH-1625 achieved rapid virologic response with a promising safety and tolerability profile.
In the first stage of a two-segment Phase IIa trial, 64 patients were enrolled and randomised to receive one of three doses of ACH-1625 once-daily (200mg, 400mg or 800mg) or placebo with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin, the current standard of care.
The patients were dosed for four weeks of therapy, which was then followed by standard of care for 44 weeks.
ACH-1625 is an inhibitor of HCV NS3 protease that was discovered by and is being developed by Achillion.
The hepatitis C virus is the most common cause of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver.
It is currently estimated that more than 170 million people are infected with hepatitis C worldwide.
