Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pharmasset have entered into a clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate BMS-790052, a NS5A replication complex inhibitor, in combination with PSI-7977, Pharmasset’s nucleotide polymerase inhibitor for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The study will evaluate the potential to achieve sustained viral response 24 weeks post treatment with an oral, once-daily treatment regimen in patients across HCV genotypes. Specifically, the study will assess the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of BMS-790052 in combination with PSI-7977, with and without ribavirin, in treatment-naïve patients chronically infected with HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3. The study is planned for 1H11.

“Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to the goal of helping patients prevail over hepatitis C by investigating multiple therapeutic platforms,” said Brian Daniels, senior vice president, development at BMS. “We are pleased to partner with Pharmasset on this important study to advance the scientific understanding of the potential for an all-oral regimen to treat hepatitis C. Conducting this study highlights our ability to collaborate with other companies to develop innovative combination therapies in areas of high unmet need.”

”We are excited to be working with BMS and to be investigating PSI-7977 with a different class of direct acting antivirals,” stated Michelle Berrey, MD, MPH, chief medical officer. “This collaboration represents one of many approaches we are pursuing with our portfolio of nucleoside/tide analogs that include both interferon free and interferon sparing regimens. We believe the development of an all oral treatment regimen represents an important evolution in the treatment of HCV.”