Hep C Combination Candidate Posts Positive Phase 2 Data

Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced an achievement from its Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) programs. The Company recently reported positive initial data from the first 52 patients in the lead-in cohort of its Phase 2 combination 8-week study of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir (RZR) for the treatment of HCV.

"We are excited to share that the initial data from the Phase 2 combination 8-week study showed a 98% Sustained Virologic Response at Week #4, which exceeds our efficacy criterion of >90% for continuing the study. Based on these data, we plan to imminently reinitiate enrollment to complete the Phase 2 study, and topline results are anticipated in the third quarter of 2024," said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Atea, on January 8, 2024.

"While direct-acting antivirals have transformed HCV treatment, substantial unmet needs still exist, and the rate of new and reinfection currently exceeds cure rates in the U.S. where 2.4 million individuals are estimated to be infected."

"The key unmet needs identified by healthcare providers in market research recently conducted by Atea include shorter length of treatment with fewer contraindications, particularly drug-drug interactions."

The full, unedited press release is available at this company link.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by HCV that is spread through contact with blood from an infected person.

According to the U.S. CDC, for some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for more than half of people who become infected with the hepatitis C virus, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection.

Chronic hepatitis C can result in serious, even life-threatening, health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer. 

Most health agencies encourage people at risk to get tested.

The CDC's website confirmed on January 10, 2024, that there is no vaccine for hepatitis C.