VIENNA, Austria, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- R1626, one of a new class of hepatitis C therapies called polymerase inhibitors, demonstrates an antiviral effect by achieving clinically significant viral load reductions in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1, the most difficult to treat genotype, according to preliminary data presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). Further trials are planned to study how well R1626 works in combination with PEGASYS(R) (peginterferon alfa-2a) and COPEGUS(R) (ribavirin).
“Data from this study evaluating R1626 are encouraging,” said Frederick G. Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Liver Foundation. “Since genotype 1 patients are the most common in the United States and also the most difficult to treat, there is a real need for a product that could potentially improve treatment outcomes.”
About the study
In this phase I study, patients are randomized to receive either oral treatment with R1626 or placebo for 14 days with 14 days of follow-up. Preliminary data were presented on the 18 patients who received 500 mg or 1,500 mg twice daily doses of R1626. The study is still ongoing and higher doses of R1626 are being evaluated.
The study found:(1) * At the 1,500 mg twice daily dose, R1626 was associated with clinically significant reductions from baseline in serum HCV RNA (a measure of how much virus is in the blood) of 1.2 log(10) (group mean). * At both 500 mg and 1,500 mg twice daily, R1626 was well tolerated in patients, with no serious adverse events and no premature withdrawals.
“Development of R1626 demonstrates our commitment to developing additional treatments for patients living with hepatitis C,” said James A. Thommes, M.D., Senior Medical Director, Roche. “PEGASYS is the preferred pegylated interferon for the management of hepatitis C in the United States today. Furthermore, we are undertaking additional collaborations and partnerships with other companies to continue to seek improvements of treatment outcomes.”
Additional data reported at EASL related to partnerships include Vertex Pharmaceutical’s VX-950, a protease inhibitor, which, in combination with PEGASYS and COPEGUS, showed a significantly increased antiviral effect in patients with hepatitis C. Subsequent studies will evaluate whether VX-950, in combination with PEGASYS and COPEGUS, may clear the hepatitis C virus with shortened treatment duration.(2)
About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, a blood-borne infectious disease of the liver, is transmitted through body fluids, primarily blood or blood products, and by sharing needles. Hepatitis C chronically infects an estimated 2.7 million Americans and 170 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and the number one reason for liver transplants in the U.S.
About Pegasys
Pegasys, a pegylated alpha interferon, and Copegus were approved by the FDA in December 2002 for use in combination for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C who have compensated liver disease and have not previously been treated with interferon alpha. Patients in whom efficacy was demonstrated included patients with compensated liver disease and histological evidence of cirrhosis.
Pegasys is dosed at 180mcg as a subcutaneous injection taken once a week. Copegus is available as a 200mg tablet, and is administered orally two times a day as a split dose. Roche has backed Pegasys with the most extensive clinical research program ever undertaken in hepatitis C, with major studies initiated to advance treatment for hepatitis C patients with unmet needs, including patients co-infected with HIV and HCV, African Americans, patients with cirrhosis, and patients who have failed to respond to previous therapy.
Please see attached additional information about Pegasys indication and safety.
About Roche
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S. pharmaceuticals headquarters of the Roche Group, one of the world’s leading research-oriented healthcare groups with core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. For more than 100 years, the Roche Group has been committed to developing innovative products and services that address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people’s health and quality of life. An employer of choice, in 2005, Roche was named one of Fortune magazine’s Best Companies to Work For in America, one of the Top 20 Employers (Science magazine), ranked as the No. 3 Best Company to Work For in NJ (NJ Biz magazine), the No. 1 Company to Sell For (Selling Power), and one of AARP’s Top Companies for Older Workers. For additional information about the U.S. pharmaceuticals business, visit our websites: http://www.rocheusa.com or http://www.roche.us.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
PEGASYS, alone or in combination with COPEGUS, is indicated for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who have compensated liver disease and have not been previously treated with interferon alpha. Patients in whom efficacy was demonstrated included patients with compensated liver disease and histological evidence of cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A) and patients with HIV disease that is clinically stable (eg, antiretroviral therapy not required or receiving stable antiretroviral therapy).
Alpha interferons, including PEGASYS(R) (Peginterferon alfa-2a), may cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Patients should be monitored closely with periodic clinical and laboratory evaluations. Therapy should be withdrawn in patients with persistently severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions. In many, but not all cases, these disorders resolve after stopping PEGASYS therapy (see CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS in complete product information).
Use with Ribavirin. Ribavirin, including COPEGUS(R), may cause birth defects and/or death of the fetus. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients. Ribavirin causes hemolytic anemia. The anemia associated with ribavirin therapy may result in a worsening of cardiac disease. Ribavirin is genotoxic and mutagenic and should be considered a potential carcinogen (see CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS in complete product information).
PEGASYS is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to PEGASYS or any of its components, autoimmune hepatitis, and hepatic decompensation (Child-Pugh score greater than 6; class B and C) in cirrhotic CHC monoinfected patients before or during treatment. Pegasys is also contraindicated in hepatic decompensation with Child-Pugh score greater than or equal to 6 in cirrhotic CHC patients coinfected with HIV before or during treatment. PEGASYS is also contraindicated in neonates and infants because it contains benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol is associated with an increased incidence of neurological and other complications in neonates and infants, which are sometimes fatal. PEGASYS and COPEGUS therapy is additionally contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to COPEGUS or any of its components, in women who are pregnant, men whose female partners are pregnant, and patients with hemoglobinopathies (eg, thalassemia major, sickle-cell anemia).
COPEGUS THERAPY SHOULD NOT BE STARTED UNLESS A REPORT OF A NEGATIVE PREGNANCY TEST HAS BEEN OBTAINED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO INITIATION OF THERAPY. Women of childbearing potential and men must use two forms of effective contraception during treatment and during the 6 months after treatment has concluded. Routine monthly pregnancy tests must be performed during this time. If pregnancy should occur during treatment or during 6 months post-therapy, the patient must be advised of the significant teratogenic risk of COPEGUS therapy to the fetus. Healthcare providers and patients are strongly encouraged to immediately report any pregnancy in a patient or partner of a patient during treatment or during 6 months after treatment cessation to the Ribavirin Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-593-2214.
Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with cirrhosis may be at risk of hepatic decompensation and death when treated with alpha interferons, including PEGASYS. Cirrhotic CHC patients coinfected with HIV receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and interferon alfa-2a with or without ribavirin appear to be at increased risk for the development of hepatic decompensation compared to patients not receiving HAART. During treatment, patients’ clinical status and hepatic function should be closely monitored, and PEGASYS treatment should be immediately discontinued if decompensation (Child-Pugh score greater than or equal to 6) is observed.
The most common adverse events reported for PEGASYS and COPEGUS combination therapy observed in clinical trials were fatigue/asthenia (65%), headache (43%), pyrexia (41%), myalgia (40%), irritability/anxiety/nervousness (33%), insomnia (30%), alopecia (28%), neutropenia (27%), nausea/vomiting (25%), rigors (25%), anorexia (24%), injection-site reaction (23%), arthralgia (22%), depression (20%), pruritus (19%) and dermatitis (16%). The adverse event profile of coinfected patients treated with PEGASYS and COPEGUS was generally similar to that shown for monoinfected patients. Events occurring more frequently in coinfected patients were neutropenia (40%), anemia (14%), thrombocytopenia (8%), weight decrease (16%) and mood alteration (9%).
Serious adverse events included neuropsychiatric disorders (homicidal ideation, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide), serious and severe bacterial infections (sepsis), bone marrow toxicity (cytopenia and rarely, aplastic anemia), cardiovascular disorders (hypertension, supraventricular arrhythmias and myocardial infarction), hypersensitivity (including anaphylaxis), endocrine disorders (including thyroid disorders and diabetes mellitus), autoimmune disorders (including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial nephritis), pulmonary disorders (dyspnea, pneumonia, bronchiolitis obliterans, interstitial pneumonitis and sarcoidosis), colitis (ulcerative and hemorrhagic/ischemic colitis), pancreatitis and ophthalmologic disorders (decrease or loss of vision, retinopathy including macular edema and retinal thrombosis/hemorrhages, optic neuritis and papilledema).
(1) Roberts S, Cooksley G, et al. Interim results of a multiple ascending dose study of R1626, a novel nucleoside analog targeting HCV polymerase in chronic HCV patients. Presented at the 41st European Association for the Study of the Liver. April 29, 2006. (2) Reesink HW, Forestier, N, et al. Initial Results Of A 14-Day Study Of The Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitor Protease VX-950, In Combination With Peginterferon-Alfa-2a. Presented at the 41st European Association for the Study of the Liver. April 29, 2006.
Roche
CONTACT: Bob Madison, Roche, +1-973-562-2231, bob.madison@roche.com; orRobyn Meyer, Manning Selvage & Lee, +1-212-468-3376, robyn.meyer@mslpr.com
