Idenix lowers dosage in drug trial

MAR. 23 5:36 P.M. ET Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Thursday said that its lowered dosages of its hepatitis C treatment in mid-stage trials after finding that higher dosages produce gastrointestinal side effects.

Idenix and Novartis AG --with whom Idenix is collaborating on the development of valopicitabine as a treatment for hepatitis C -- lowered the daily dosages given in its Phase IIb trials of the drug to 200 milligrams or 400 milligrams, from the original 800 milligram dosage. The Food and Drug Administration has agreed to the change in the ongoing trials, Idenix said.

Shares of Idenix fell $3.25, or 16 percent, to $17 in after-hours electronic trading on the Inet after it closed up by 5 cents on the Nasdaq. The stock has traded between $15.83 and $28.30 over the past year.

Source: Business Week

Response from the Hepatitis C Newsgroup

I believe Valopicitabine to be the furhest advanced among the various drugs having clinical trials.However, due to the side effects and lower dosages it appears it will only be a modest improvement over existing treatment. It may be the first to hit the market but VX-950, the Schering-Plough PROTEASE INHIBITOR, or AVI-4065 (just entering phase I trials) are probably the future of Hep C treatment.