Shares of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ACHN) gained more than 9% after announcing encouraging results from two studies on its hepatitis C virus (HCV) candidates ACH-3102 and ACH-3422.
Achillion announced results from a phase II pilot study evaluating an eight-week treatment of ACH-3102 in combination with Gilead’s (GILD) Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) for treatment-naïve genotype 1 HCV patients. Results showed that all active patients enrolled in the study (n=12) achieved sustained viral response at 4 weeks (SVR4) independent of baseline viral load, gender and IL28B status.
Results also showed that ACH-3102 and Sovaldi were well-tolerated with no serious adverse events being reported. The main objective of the study is to determine sustained viral response at 12 weeks (SVR12) after completion of therapy, which is expected to be reported in the first half of 2015.
Also, the company announced interim results from a phase I study on ACH-3422. The study evaluated ACH-3422 in healthy subjects and proof-of-concept in treatment-naïve genotype 1 HCV-infected patients. Results revealed that 50% of patients (3 out of 6) under ACH-3422 (700 mg dose) achieved mean maximal reduction in HCV viral RNA load of 4.8 log10. Moreover, all doses of the candidate (50mg – 700mg) were well tolerated during the study.
Our Take
Results on both the HCV candidates were encouraging. Achillion also has sovaprevir in its HCV pipeline, currently under partial clinical hold in a phase II study. We expect investor focus to stay on the company’s HCV candidates going forward.
Presently, the lucrative HCV market is led by Gilead’s Sovaldi. Earlier in the year, Gilead’s Harvoni was also approved for treating patients affected with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Olysio is another available genotype 1 chronic HCV infection treatment.
Achillion carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Another stock worth considering in the health care sector is Amgen Inc. (AMGN) carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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