sexta-feira, setembro 09, 2005
Gilead inicia ensaio clínico com medicamento contra HepC
InPharm 19.08.05
Gilead and Achillion initiate early trial of hepatitis C drug
Gilead Sciences and Achillion Pharmaceuticals have begun dosing patients in a phase I study of GS 9132, a drug being co-developed by the companies for the treatment of hepatitis C.
During the trial, the companies will evaluate the pharmacokinetics, tolerability and safety of single escalating doses of GS 9132 in healthy volunteers. The study will take place in the US and will enroll approximately 20 subjects.
GS 9132 was discovered by Achillion, and the co-development of the drug is part of an agreement that the companies signed in November 2004 that granted Gilead worldwide rights for the research, development and commercialization of certain Achillion compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C.
"We are excited about the novel mechanism of action of GS 9132 involving HCV protease, and we are looking forward to establishing the safety profile of this compound in humans," stated Dr Milind Deshpande, chief scientific officer of Achillion.
Hepatitis C is a viral liver disease, caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. Globally, more than 170 million people have chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is a leading cause of cirrhosis, a common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, and is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the US.