BMY announces BMS-790052 plus PEG-Interferon alfa and RBV Phase II trial results against HCV

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced results from a Phase II clinical trial in which treatment with the investigational direct-acting antiviral (DAA) BMS-790052, an NS5A replication complex inhibitor, in combination with PEG-Interferon alfa and ribavirin (RBV), achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) in up to 92% of treatment-naïve patients chronically infected with hepatitis C (HCV) genotype 1 (10 mg dose arm).

"There currently exists a medical need for new medicines or new combinations of medicines for hepatitis C patients as many hepatitis C patients have limited success on the currently available treatments," said Stanislas Pol, MD, PhD, Professor of Hepatology at Université Paris V (René Descartes), Paris, France and head of the Hepatology unit at Cochin Hospital, Paris, France. "The results of this study warrant further clinical investigation of adding Bristol-Myers Squibb's investigational compound BMS-790052 to the current medicines to evaluate its potential to address this unmet treatment need."

Study Results

The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients with extended rapid virologic response (eRVR) defined as undetectable viral load (HCV RNA < 10 IU/mL) at both Weeks 4 and 12. BMS-790052 plus PEG-interferon alfa and ribavirin achieved higher rates of SVR12 compared to PEG-interferon alfa and ribavirin alone, across all BMS-790052 treatment groups [BMS-790052: 60 mg: 83% (10/12 patients), 10 mg: 92% (11/12 patients), 3 mg: 42% (5/12 patients); PEG-interferon alfa/RBV: 25% (3/12 patients)].

Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) were comparable across study arms and were consistent with the safety profile of PEG-Interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy. Four patients discontinued due to AEs in the BMS-790052 60 mg group for a diverse set of adverse events. All four patients had undetectable viral load at the time of study discontinuation and three of these patients achieved SVR12. No new on-treatment SAEs were reported beyond study week 24.

Grade 3 to 4 adverse events for BMS-790052 treatment groups and placebo were BMS-790052: 60 mg: 33.3%, 10 mg: 25%, 3 mg: 8.3%; PEG-interferon alfa/RBV: 41.7%. Two patients (one receiving 3 mg BMS-790052 and one receiving 60 mg BMS-790052) experienced anemia (hemoglobin <9 g/dL). Erythropoietin use was comparable between BMS-790052 treatment groups (one to three patients per arm) and the placebo treatment group (two patients). The use of filgrastim (G-CSF) in the study groups was: BMS-790052: 60 mg: 0%, 10 mg: 25%, 3 mg: 16.7%; PEG-interferon alfa/RBV: 16.7%. Other adverse events, occurring in at least four patients (33.3%) in any cohort include: fatigue (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 50%,10 mg: 50%, 3 mg: 58.3%; placebo: 75%), neutropenia (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 16.7%,10 mg: 33.3%, 3 mg: 25%; placebo: 41.7%), nausea (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 33.3%,10 mg: 33.3%, 3 mg: 41.7%; placebo: 50%), vomiting (BMS-790052 60 mg: 33.3%, 10 mg: 8.3%, 3 mg: 16.7%; placebo: 0%), and headache (BMS-790052: 60 mg: 25%, 10 mg: 75%, 3 mg: 58.3%; placebo: 25%).