Abbott and Enanta Announce Advancement of Hepatitis C Collaboration
Initiation of Phase 2 Clinical Trial Investigating Three Individual HCV Antivirals
ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and WATERTOWN, Mass., March 2
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and Enanta Pharmaceuticals announced
today the advancement of their Hepatitis C (HCV) collaboration into
Phase 2 clinical trials. The trial will evaluate three HCV
antiviral agents, including the investigational protease inhibitor
ABT-450, part of the Abbott-Enanta collaboration, and polymerase
inhibitors ABT-333 and ABT-072 currently being developed
exclusively by Abbott. Each antiviral agent will be dosed
individually in combination with the current standard of care
(SOC).
ABT-450 was discovered as part of an alliance between Abbott and
Enanta. ABT-333 and ABT-072, both discovered internally at Abbott,
are part of the company's ongoing non-nucleoside polymerase
inhibitor development program.
"Our scientists are working diligently to advance the treatment
of Hepatitis C, which is a serious global epidemic that affects 170
million people worldwide," said John M. Leonard, M.D., senior vice
president, Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abbott.
"As a global leader in the development of antiviral therapies, we
are focused on building an industry-leading pipeline for the
treatment of HCV and are well-positioned to explore multiple potent
and new classes of HCV therapies that hold promise for
patients."
While significant progress has been made in HCV treatment, there
are limitations in efficacy and safety for the current standard of
care. An extended duration of treatment (24 or 48 week course of a
combination of pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin) still
results in a less-than 50% cure rate in those with HCV genotype 1.
Additionally, the side-effects from interferon therapy can be
highly problematic, often including depression and flu-like
symptoms.
"Initiating Phase 2 is a key step in advancing our HCV
collaboration," said Jay R. Luly, Ph.D., president and CEO of
Enanta Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to working with Abbott to
advance our shared vision of creating breakthrough treatments for
HCV infection."
The objectives of the Phase 2 study are to assess the safety,
tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of multiple
dose strengths of ABT-450 or ABT-333 or ABT-072, each dosed
individually in treatment-naïve adults infected with HCV
genotype 1, the most common and difficult to treat form of the
infection in the developed world. Initial antiviral activity will
be evaluated via a 3-day monotherapy period. Subsequently, each
antiviral agent will be administered with pegIFN/RBV (SOC) for
12-weeks, followed by treatment with SOC alone for an additional
36-weeks. Participants will then be monitored for sustained
virologic response (SVR).
About Hepatitis C Virus
Hepatitis C is a liver disease affecting over 170 million people
worldwide. The virus is spread through direct contact with the
blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C increases a person's risk
of developing chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and
death. Liver disease associated with HCV infection is growing
rapidly, and current therapies only provide sustained benefit in
about half of patients with the genotype 1 form of the virus.
Specifically targeted antiviral therapies for HCV, such as NS3/4a
protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors, may
have the potential to increase the proportion of patients in whom
the virus can be eradicated.
About Enanta
Enanta Pharmaceuticals is a research and development company
that uses its novel chemistry approach and drug discovery
capabilities to create best in class small molecule drugs in the
infectious disease field. Enanta is developing novel protease,
NS5A, polymerase, and cyclophilin-based inhibitors targeted against
the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Additionally, the Company has created
a new class of macrolide antibiotics, called Bicyclolides, which
overcomes bacterial resistance. Antibacterial focus areas include
superbugs, respiratory tract infections, and intravenous and oral
treatments for hospital and community MRSA. Enanta is a privately
held company headquartered in Watertown, MA. Enanta's news releases
and other information are available on the company's web site at
www.enanta.com.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to
the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of
pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals,
devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 83,000
people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
Abbott's news releases and other information are available on
the company's web site at www.abbott.com.
Source: Abbott
CONTACT: Media, Raquel Powers, +1-847-935-6563, or Financial,
Larry
Peepo, +1-847-935-6722, both of Abbott; or Media, Kari
Watson,
+1-781-235-3060, or Financial, Paul Mellett, +1-617-607-0761, both
of Enanta
Pharmaceuticals
Web Site: http://www.abbott.com/
http://www.enanta.com/
Posted: March 2010
