Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pharmasset to investigate hepatitis therapy

Bristol-Myers Squibb is to collaborate with fellow pharmaceutical company Pharmasset to investigate a potentially promising new means of treating hepatitis C.

The companies will conduct a proof of concept study that will evaluate the potential efficacy of the NS5A replication complex inhibitor BMS-790052 among chronic hepatitis C patients when used in combination with Pharmasset's nucleotide polymerase inhibitor PSI-7977.

This research will aim to achieve sustained viral response 24 weeks after treatment via a once-daily regimen and represents the first cross-company collaboration to combine two oral agents to combat hepatitis C.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pharmasset will begin the study during the first half of 2011.

Brian Daniels, senior vice-president for development at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "Conducting this study highlights Bristol-Myers Squibb's ability to collaborate with other companies to develop innovative combination therapies in areas of high unmet need."

Last month, the company agreed a global licensing deal with Oncolys BioPharma to commercialise festinavir, a new treatment for HIV.