Idenix presents positive preclinical data on HCV programs

IDX184 is a nucleotide prodrug derived from Idenix’s proprietary liver- targeting technology. Results from in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies confirm that this technology preferentially activates IDX184 in the liver, potentially enhancing the antiviral activity of the drug and limiting systemic side effects. In an HCV replicon model, IDX184 exhibited 10 times greater potency than the first-generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleoside clinical drug candidates currently in development. In HCV genotype-1 infected chimpanzees, once-daily oral administration of 10mg/kg of IDX184 resulted in a mean viral load reduction of 2.3 log10 (n=5) after four days of dosing.

IDX184 demonstrated additive antiviral activity in the HCV replicon in combination with HCV protease inhibitors and interferon and synergistic activity in combination with ribavirin. IDX184 also remained fully active in vitro against HCV containing known protease and non-nucleoside inhibitor drug resistance mutations.

David Standring, executive vice president, biology, of Idenix, said: “The preclinical profiles emerging in our HCV nucleoside and protease inhibitor programs are very encouraging when compared to first-generation drug candidates from both of these drug classes. We plan to have product candidates from both of these programs in clinical development within the next 12 months with the goal to evaluate our own novel combinations thereafter.”