In an attempt to overcome the side effects and suboptimal response to interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C, researchers are studying a variety of agents that directly target specific steps of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) lifecycle, an approach known as "STAT-C."

On March 31, 2009, Pharmasset announced that the first healthy HCV-uninfected volunteers had started to receive the company's investigational second-generation nucleotide analog HCV polymerase inhibitor, PSI-7851 in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

Below is an excerpt from Pharmasset's recent press release:

Pharmasset Initiates First Time in Human Study of PSI-7851 for the Treatment of Hepatitis C (HCV)

Princeton, NJ -- March 31, 2009 -- Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS) announced today that dosing has started in a phase 1, single ascending dose (SAD) study in healthy volunteers with PSI-7851, a second generation nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Pharmasset filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this quarter.

"This is a significant milestone for Pharmasset. PSI-7851 is a wholly owned, second generation nucleotide analog that was discovered by Pharmasset scientists" stated Dr. Michelle Berrey, Pharmasset 's Chief Medical Officer. "We continue to see nucleos(t)ide inhibitors as having the potential to be the cornerstone of future HCV treatment, given their higher barrier to resistance and antiviral activity across multiple HCV genotypes, characteristics that set them apart from other HCV drug classes. We look forward to reporting the first antiviral data with PSI-7851 in the second half of 2009."

About PSI-7851

PSI-7851 is a uridine nucleoside analog currently in developed for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. PSI-7851 has demonstrated in vitro anti-HCV activity with EC(50) values of 90 +/- 60 nM, which is approximately 15- to 20-fold more potent than the active metabolite of Pharmasset 's first generation nucleoside polymerase inhibitor, R7128. In vitro studies of PSI-7851 have not shown evidence of any mitochondrial or other cellular toxicities that may be associated with some nucleoside analogs. The half-life of the triphosphate in primary human hepatocytes is approximately 38 hours, which suggests the possibility for once-daily dosing. Like R7128, PSI-7851 has demonstrated in vitro activity against all of the most common HCV genotypes.

About Pharmasset

Pharmasset is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing novel drugs to treat viral infections. Pharmasset's primary focus is on the development of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

For more information, visit the web site at www.pharmasset.com.

4/10/09

Source
Pharmasset, Inc. Pharmasset Initiates First Time in Human Study of PSI-7851 for the Treatment of Hepatitis C (HCV). Press release. March 31, 2009.