Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. says its proposed hepatitis C treatment has generated promising results in two mid-stage human clinical trials, based on a preliminary analysis.
The Cambridge, Mass., company (Nasdaq: VRTX) reported on Friday that the two trials of telaprevir (VX-950) helped reduce the virus to undetectable levels at rates over 60 percent, using the drug in combination with two other drugs.
Telaprevir accomplished this, according to the company, using half the standard treatment duration -- over a 24 week period instead of the typical 48 week treatment programs with current therapies.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by an infection that affects 170 million people around the world.
Vertex is presenting the data during the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association of the Study of Liver Diseases in Boston from Nov. 2 - 6.
Source: http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2007/10/29/daily63.html
