Bristol-Myers Squibb reports positive type 3 hepatitis C drug data

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced late-breaking data from its landmark Ally trial, which has demonstrated the benefits of an investigational combination hepatitis C therapy.

The study assessed a ribavirin-free 12-week regimen of daclatasvir in combination with sofosbuvir in genotype 3 hepatitis C (HCV) patients – a population that has emerged as one of the most difficult to treat.

It achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment in 90 percent of treatment-naive subjects and 86 percent of treatment-experienced patients. It was also well-tolerated, with no deaths, treatment-related serious adverse events or discontinuations.

Genotype 3 is associated with a more rapid progression of disease and remains a challenge to treat, even for newer regimens. It is hoped that this new combination could provide a potential cure option.

Dr Douglas Manion, head of specialty development at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "HCV is a complex disease and the treatment community needs multiple options to address the remaining unmet medical needs."

This comes after the firm also recently reported positive data from Unity, a trial assessing a fixed-dose combination of daclatasvir with asunaprevir and beclabuvir in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus.