Boehringer Ingelheim commences interferon-free hepatitis C trials

Boehringer Ingelheim has enrolled the first patients for HCVerso, a pivotal phase III clinical trial programme assessing the benefits of an interferon-free approach to hepatitis C (HCV) treatment.

The trial will evaluate the benefits of an investigational polymodal therapy regimen combining the once-daily protease inhibitor faldaprevir and the non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor BI 207127 Plus, in addition to ribavirin.

HCVerso includes two phase III clinical trials that will treat approximately 1,000 patients and aims to highlight the benefits of alternatives to injectable interferon, which is associated with lengthy treatment durations and severe side effects.

The studies are being launched after Boehringer Ingelheim's new combination therapy demonstrated efficacy in the Sound-C trial programme.

Professor Klaus Dugi, senior vice-president for medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "Our goal is an interferon-free future in the treatment of HCV and ensuring all patients individually receive the most effective treatment for them."

Last year, the company began work on the development of a new pilot plant facility in Biberach, Germany, with the aim of supporting the production of new therapies for conditions such as HCV in future.