Schering Plough completes patient enrolment in hepatitis C drug

Scheering-Plough has announced that it has completed patient enrolment in for its phase II clinical trial of a hepatitis C protease inhibitor, known as SCH 503034.

The company said that the total enrolment of patients in this phase of the study will reach approximately 350 across the US and Europe, and expects to offer a full range of doses. During phase I of the trial, the drug was reported to be safe and tolerated at all doses.

The treatment is targeted at patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV genotype one), the most common form of the virus in the world and also the leading cause of liver transplants.

Robert J Spiegel, chief medical officer and senior vice-president, said: “SCH 503034 is one of the most advanced investigational agents in this new class of drugs that target key HCV proteins necessary for viral replication.”

He added: “This promising oral antiviral agent has the potential to greatly improve treatment for all hepatitis C patients and may lead to future regimens that are more effective, better tolerated and shorter in duration.”

Schering-Plough is perhaps best known publicly for their anti-allergy drugs such as Claritin and Clarinex, and also anti-cholesterol drug Zetia, manufactured with Merck. Earlier this month they posted quarterly net sales of $1.62 billion (?905 million), which was a company record.

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