Boehringer Ingelheims lead hepatitis C compound moves into phase III the first within the BI HCV portfolio
INGELHEIM, Germany, 2 April 2011 – Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the study outline for the pivotal Phase III clinical trials designed to evaluate BI 201335, its investigational once-daily oral protease inhibitor, in both treatment-naïve and -experienced patients with chronic genotype-1 hepatitis C virus (HCV), the most challenging genotype to treat.
In parallel, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designations for BI 201335 plus standard-of care (SOC), and as part of the interferon-free combination with the polymerase inhibitor, BI 207127, in chronic genotype-1 HCV patients.
"We are delighted to receive the FDA’s Fast Track
designation for both, our BI 201335 plus SOC, and interferon-free
combination treatment approaches. If successful, the combination
therapy carries the potential for patients to live without the
burden of interferon’s side effects," said Professor Klaus
Dugi, Corporate Senior Vice President Medicine at Boehringer
Ingelheim.
"We are committed to bringing BI 201335 forward, with the ambition
of improving cure rates for the benefit of those living with
hepatitis C."
BI 201335 Phase III Trials*
BI 201335 will be evaluated in multiple randomised,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in combination with
pegylated-interferon and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV), the current HCV
SOC. The Phase III trials include two studies in treatment-
naïve and one study in treatment-experienced chronic
genotype-1 HCV patients. The two studies in treatment-naïve
patients will be conducted in the European Union and Japan, as well
as the U.S., Canada, Taiwan and Korea. The study in
treatment-experienced patients will be conducted globally. BI
201335 will be dosed once-daily at either 120mg or 240mg in
combination with PegIFN/RBV and treatment durations will range from
24 to 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of each trial is sustained
viral response (SVR), which is considered viral cure. These studies
are part of a broader Phase III trial programme expected to
commence in the second quarter of 2011.