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news.Schering-Plough, a science-based healthcare company, has announced that it is developing a highly potent next-generation oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor that has future best-in-class potential.
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As part of its long-term commitment to hepatitis C therapy, Schering-Plough is developing SCH 900518 (518), a next-generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor. A Phase IIa study with 518, known as the Next-1 study, is currently ongoing.
The company said that 518 has been shown to be 10 times more potent in-vitro than other protease inhibitors currently in Phase III development and has the potential for once daily dosing. The protease inhibitor also has shown decreased emergence of resistance in vitro. Given its pharmacokinetic profile, the company anticipates that 518 may be active against some HCV strains that are resistant to other protease inhibitors.
Phase I proof of concept studies with 518 in treatment-naive patients and those who failed prior treatment, both as monotherapy and in combination with peginterferon, demonstrated enhanced antiviral activity, with up to 4log10 and 5log10 decreases in circulating HCV, respectively, the company said.