New Haven drug developer Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched its first human trial of one of its treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
The company says the double-blind Phase 1 study of its ACH-2684 protease inhibitor compound involves stepped-up dosing over a 14-day period as many as 40 U.S. patients infected with the virus and up to 78 healthy volunteers as a control.
This trial will establish the drug’s safety profile, Elizabeth A. Olek, Achillion’s chief medical officer, said in a statement Wednesday.
Achillion is one of a number of drug developers racing to get approval for their treatments to satisfy mounting U.S. and global demand for a viable treatment or cure for hepatitis C.
Tuesday, federal drug regulators approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ hepatitis C drug Incivek on the heels of approving Merck’s hepatitis C drug Vicrelis just weeks earlier.
Achillion CEO Michael Kishbauch says the company is on track to reap more clinical milestones for two more of its hepatitis C treatments — ACH-1625 and ACH-2928 NS5A – before year end.
