Anadys Pharmaceuticals has achieved complete early virological response (cEVR) from an ongoing 12-week Phase II study of ANA598, a new drug candidate to treat hepatitis C.

The results demonstrated 75% of hepatitis C patients treated with 400mg ANA598 twice daily in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin achieved undetectable levels of the virus.

A total of 90 treatment-naïve genotype 1 patients received ANA598 or the placebo in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 12 weeks with 200mg or 400mg.

Anadys has completed three Phase I studies that demonstrated potent antiviral activity and tolerability.

ANA598 has received fast-track status from the FDA to treat chronic hepatitis C.