Schering-Plough's SCH 503034 lowers viral load in hepatitis C patients, study shows

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Nov. 14 - Schering-Plough Corp. said its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor SCH 503034 demonstrated potent antiviral activity in a phase 1 clinical study.

The study included 61 patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 who were nonresponders to previous therapy.

Patients were divided into two groups. Patients in group A received one of four doses of SCH 503034 or a placebo for 14 days. Patients in group B received SCH 503034 alone for seven days, PEG-Intron alone for 14 days or a combination of the two for 14 days.

Viral load was reduced in all patients exposed to SCH 503034, the company said, and the drug was safe and well tolerated at all dose levels evaluated.

The results were presented in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Based on the results of the phase 2 study, Schering-Plough said it has initiated a phase 2 study of SCH 503034 in combination with PEG-Intron in nonresponders with HCV genotype 1.

Currently, there are no products approved for treating hepatitis C patients who failed previous therapies, the company said.

Kenilworth, N.J.-based Schering-Plough is a health care company that develops prescription, consumer and animal health products.

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