Valeant says hepatitis C drug causes less anemia

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Valeant says hepatitis C drug causes less anemia

June 12, 2008 1:19 PM ET

DANA POINT, Calif. (AP) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said Thursday

that its mid-stage hepatitis C candidate taribavirin could replace a drug used

in a common treatment regimen.

Ribavirin and peginterferon are considered the standard of care regimen for

hepatitis C. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Global Healthcare Conference, Valeant

Senior Vice President of Drug Development Harry Mansbach said that many

patients, however, develop anemia upon taking ribavirin.

Mansbach said that because fewer cases of anemia have been associated with

Valeant's taribavirin drug, it could be prescribed instead of ribavirin for

hepatitis C patients at risk for anemia, such as those who also are

HIV-positive.

Chief Executive J. Pearson said, though, that the company won't move

taribavirin into late-stage trials until a partner for the drug is found.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Schering-Plough Corp. also have hepatitis C

drugs in mid-stage development. Both Vertex's telaprevir and Schering-Plough's

boceprevir would be added to standard therapy.

Separately, Pearson said Valeant is eyeing an application for its late-stage

epilepsy drug retigabine in the third quarter. He noted that following the

release of positive late-stage data in May, partnership interest in the drug has

accelerated.

Over the past six months, Valeant has been undergoing a strategic restructuring,

which has included selling off some of its drugs, reducing staff and divesting

some of its operations around the world.

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[Guest guest]

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP & date=2008\

0612 & id=8768227

Valeant says hepatitis C drug causes less anemia

June 12, 2008 1:19 PM ET

DANA POINT, Calif. (AP) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said Thursday

that its mid-stage hepatitis C candidate taribavirin could replace a drug used

in a common treatment regimen.

Ribavirin and peginterferon are considered the standard of care regimen for

hepatitis C. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Global Healthcare Conference, Valeant

Senior Vice President of Drug Development Harry Mansbach said that many

patients, however, develop anemia upon taking ribavirin.

Mansbach said that because fewer cases of anemia have been associated with

Valeant's taribavirin drug, it could be prescribed instead of ribavirin for

hepatitis C patients at risk for anemia, such as those who also are

HIV-positive.

Chief Executive J. Pearson said, though, that the company won't move

taribavirin into late-stage trials until a partner for the drug is found.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Schering-Plough Corp. also have hepatitis C

drugs in mid-stage development. Both Vertex's telaprevir and Schering-Plough's

boceprevir would be added to standard therapy.

Separately, Pearson said Valeant is eyeing an application for its late-stage

epilepsy drug retigabine in the third quarter. He noted that following the

release of positive late-stage data in May, partnership interest in the drug has

accelerated.

Over the past six months, Valeant has been undergoing a strategic restructuring,

which has included selling off some of its drugs, reducing staff and divesting

some of its operations around the world.

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