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Pipeline Insight: Hepatitis C - Protease Inhibitors To Drive Market Expansion

Published by: Datamonitor

Published: Jun. 27, 2006 - 232 Pages



Table of Contents


ABOUT DATAMONITOR HEALTHCARE

About the Infectious Diseases & Respiratory pharmaceutical analysis team




CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Scope of the analysis

Contributing experts

Datamonitor insight into the HCV market


The HCV market is expected to grow from $2.2 billion in 2005 to $4.4 billion in 2010 and $8.8 billion in 2015. Growth will be driven mainly by the rapid uptake of new drugs and potentially the use of multiple drugs in the same treatment regime, the premium pricing these will be able to command and the increase in the number of patients seeking treatment

Vertex' protease inhibitor VX-950, the most potent drug in the late-stage HCV pipeline, is anticipated to be the key growth driver, overshadowing Schering-Plough's protease inhibitor SCH-503034 and Idenix/Novartis's polymerase inhibitor NM283. VX-950's success will be conditional on the drug confirming superior efficacy rates and favorable long-term toxicity

HCV trial design is becoming increasingly complex. The heterogeneity of the overall patient pool requires stratification by treatment status, HCV genotype and comorbidities. The exploration of multidrug therapy, weight-based dosing and ideal treatment duration has increased overall trial sizes. Current therapy trial design reflects uncertainty about the future face of HCV therapy

With only half of all HCV patients benefiting from current therapy, medical unmet needs are high. Higher efficacy with regard to the ability to achieve SVR remains the key, followed by better tolerability. SVR rates are particularly low in difficult-to-treat patients


Key metrics




CHAPTER 2 HCV PIPELINE ANALYSIS

Pipeline overview


Small molecule antivirals dominate the HCV pipeline


The HCV pipeline contains drugs with various mechanisms of action


Double-digit growth driven by the launch of potent HCV inhibitors will lead to a doubling of the HCV market by 2010


Key companies involved in the HCV pipeline


Established players are losing market share to newcomers

Roche - Pegasys still growing strong

Schering-Plough - SCH-503034 to fill the gap

Vertex - expanding the market with VX-950

Novartis - building a broad arsenal of antivirals




CHAPTER 3 PATIENT POTENTIAL

Hepatitis C disease definition and progression


HCV genotype 1 currently accounts for the majority of chronic infections


Genotype frequency: new infections may not mirror the current chronic patient pool


While past HCV transmission occurred mainly through contaminated blood products, most new infections currently occur via injection drug use

HCV readily establishes a chronic infection that can progress to liver cirrhosis and cancer


As a result of the silent nature of chronic HCV, patients are usually diagnosed at advanced stages of liver fibrosis

The number of patients presenting with HCV-related complications is set to rise



HCV epidemiology and patient segmentation


Chronic HCV is widespread on a global basis, with prevalence varying significantly by geographical region


Estimates for chronic HCV prevalence in the seven major markets

Chronic HCV is more prevalent among men, in older age groups, and individuals of African origin

Significantly higher rates of HCV prevalence are found in IDUs, HIV patients, and individuals receiving renal replacement therapy


Patient segmentation takes into account both patient and virus-specific factors


Drug development focuses on HCV genotype 1

Nonresponders and relapsers currently left without treatment options

HCV/HIV co-infection - a notoriously difficult-to-treat patient subgroup

Recurrent HCV post-transplant - current treatment options suffer from major limitations



The HCV market is characterized by high unmet need


Higher efficacy remains the most important product-specific unmet need


Higher efficacy, in particular in HCV genotype 1

Better tolerability

Shorter treatment duration

Less frequent dosing

Other product-specific unmet needs


Patient-specific unmet needs


Diagnosis and treatment rates are currently low, but are expected to increase concomitant with market entry of new drugs

Certain population subgroups achieve moderate or limited success with current treatment options





CHAPTER 4 R&D APPROACH

Effective treatment of chronic HCV requires combination therapy


From interferon monotherapy to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy


Moderate success with interferon monotherapy

Breakthrough with ribavirin

Pegylation of the interferon molecule reduces dosing frequency while increasing efficacy


Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy is the current standard of care


Both pegylated interferon and ribavirin have broad mechanisms of action

Little differentiation between the two available combination therapies

The future of Peg-IFN-based therapy lies in tailoring therapy to the patient



HCV pipeline drugs fall into five major drug classes


Small molecule antivirals directly inhibit key steps in the viral lifecycle


NS3 protease inhibitors are the most promising drug class

NS5B polymerase inhibitors are less potent than the protease inhibitors but might have an important role as part of multidrug therapy

Other direct HCV inhibitors


Interferons act by inducing a local and systemic immune response


Interferons with reduced dosing frequency may lower the incidence of side effects


Immunomodulators


Will Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists live up to the expectations?

Other immunomodulators


Therapeutic vaccines have been difficult to develop


Clinical trial design in HCV is becoming increasingly complex


Patient stratification according to genotype and treatment experience is a must


Further levels of patient stratification require ever larger studies


Moving toward multidrug therapy


Clinical trial endpoints in HCV focus on antiviral efficacy


Virologic response is the key measure of antiviral efficacy


RVR, EVR, ETR and the all-important SVR

Viramidine trials have included the incidence of anemia as a co-primary endpoint

Study endpoints other than virologic response rates will become increasingly important





CHAPTER 5 INTERFERONS LATE-STAGE DRUG ANALYSIS

Overview for interferons in late-stage development for HCV


Pipeline summary

Definition of current comparator therapy


Pegylated interferon has limited efficacy in HCV genotype 1 and is associated with adverse events



Long acting interferons


Albuferon - albumin fusion to interferon reduces dosing frequency


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecast to 2015


Omega interferon & Omega DUROS


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Datamonitor comments





CHAPTER 6 SMALL MOLECULE ANTIVIRALS LATE-STAGE DRUG ANALYSIS

Overview for small molecule antivirals in late-stage development for HCV


Pipeline summary

Definition of current comparator therapy


RBV has limited antiviral efficacy and causes hemolytic anemia



IMPDH inhibitors


Viramidine - less toxic than RBV, but doubts regarding non-inferiority still prevail


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecasts to 2015



NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors


Valopicitabine (NM-283) - commercial success relies on combination therapy with protease inhibitors


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecasts to 2015



NS3 protease inhibitors


VX-950 - unprecedented high potency and potential for shorter treatment duration


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Pharmacokinetic boosting with ritonavir may improve dosing

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecasts to 2015


SCH-503034 - overshadowed by VX-950?


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecasts to 2015



Other small molecule antivirals


Celgosivir (MX-3253) - antiviral effect through inhibition of a cellular enzyme


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecasts to 2015



Comparison of small molecule antivirals in late-stage development

Late-stage developmental compounds recently discontinued


Merimepodib (VX-497) - development post-METRO unlikely

UT-231B

JTK-003

HCV-086

Ciluprevir (BILN-2061)


Unexpected toxicity in animals


R803

Levovirin




CHAPTER 7 IMMUNOMODULATORS LATE-STAGE DRUG ANALYSIS

Overview for immunomodulators in late-stage development for HCV


Pipeline summary

Definition of current comparator therapy


Toll-like receptor agonists


CpG 10101 (Actilon) - a TLR9 agonist with a dual mode of action


Drug overview

Key clinical trial data

Patient potential

Marketing factors

Datamonitor comments

Forecasts to 2015



Late-stage developmental compounds recently discontinued


Histamine dihydrochloride (Ceplene)

FK778




CHAPTER 8 DEVELOPMENTAL HCV THERAPEUTICS EXCLUDED FROM THE FORECAST

Developmental HCV drugs in Phase I


ANA-975 - Anadys's TLR7 agonist

R1626 - Roche's polymerase inhibitor

HCV-796 - ViroPharma's polymerase inhibitor

XTL-2125 - XTL's polymerase inhibitor

GS-9132 (ACH-806) - Achillion's & Gilead's protease inhibitor


Developmental HCV therapeutics excluded for other reasons


Therapeutic vaccines


INNO101 (InnoVac-C, HCV-E1 vaccine)

IC-41

Novartis's HCV vaccines


Drugs in development for recurrent HCV post-transplant and HCV-related liver disease


IDN-6556

Civacir

XTL-6865 (XTL-002)


Drugs with uncertain commercial potential


Interferon beta

Zadaxin

IFN alfa-2b XL

Peg-IFN alfacon-1 (consensus IFN)

Virostat

EMZ-702

AVI-4065

EHC-18





APPENDIX

Methodology & bibliography


Forecasting methodology


Chronic HCV prevalence

HCV treatment rates

Product penetration rates

Product pricing

Pricing of marketed drugs

Average duration of HCV therapy

Summary of HCV epidemiology forecast

Estimation of product launch dates

Estimation of pegylated and standard interferon sales accounted for by chronic HCV

Developmental product patent expiry dates


Report methodology

Bibliography


Journals

Conference abstracts

Press releases

Datamonitor products

Miscellaneous

Websites



About Datamonitor


About Datamonitor Healthcare

Datamonitor Healthcare's therapy area capabilities

About the Infectious Diseases & Respiratory analysis team

Disclaimer





List of Tables

Table 1: HCV pipeline overview

Table 2: Commercially attractive late-stage developmental HCV drugs included in the sales forecast

Table 3: HCV drug sales by class, 2005-2015

Table 4: Geographical distribution of HCV genotypes

Table 5: Adjusted prevalence of HCV RNA positive individuals in the seven major markets, 2006

Table 6: HIV/HCV co-infection in the seven major markets

Table 7: The efficacy of the current standard of care is genotype-dependent, being lowest for HCV genotypes 1 and 4

Table 8: Dosing schedule for Peg-Intron and Rebetol combination therapy

Table 9: Dosing schedule for Pegasys and Copegus combination therapy

Table 10: Patients who achieve RVR and EVR are more likely to achieve SVR

Table 11: Key late-stage interferons

Table 12: The median half-life of Albuferon is significantly higher than that of both Pegasys and PEG-Intron

Table 13: Albuferon: key facts

Table 14: 48-week and 24-week results for US Albuferon combination trial in nonresponders show dose-dependent antiviral activity

Table 15: 12-week results for the Phase II Albuferon combination trial in HCV genotype 1 treatment-naïve patients

Table 16: Global sales forecast for Albuferon, 2010-2015

Table 17: Omega DUROS: key facts, 2006

Table 18: EVR data for Phase II trial of Omega IFN in combination with RBV, November 2005

Table 19: Key late-stage small molecule antivirals, 2006

Table 20: Viramidine: key facts,2006

Table 21: Efficacy results for VISER 1

Table 22: Stratification of patients supports weight-based viramidine dosing

Table 23: The accumulation of viramidine in plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) is lower than that of RBV

Table 24: Global sales forecast for viramidine, 2009-2015

Table 25: Valopicitabine (NM283): key facts, 2006

Table 26: Partial 24-week data for the NM283 Phase IIb trial in HCV genotype 1 nonresponders

Table 27: Following the incidence of dose-dependent GI effects, the maximum dose for HCV genotype 1 nonresponders was reduced to 400mg from the original 800mg

Table 28: Partial 4-week results for the Phase IIb NM283 trial in treatment-naïve HCV genotype 1 infected patients

Table 29: Global sales forecast for NM283, 2009-2015

Table 30: VX-950: key facts, 2006

Table 31: Preliminary 4-week results of VX-950's triple combination Phase II study in treatment-naïve, genotype-1 infected HCV patients

Table 32: Results of the US Phase Ib trial in HCV nonresponders

Table 33: Global sales forecast for VX-950, 2009-2015

Table 34: SCH-503034: key facts, 2006

Table 35: Phase I open-label combination study results

Table 36: Global sales forecast for SCH-503034, 2009-2015

Table 37: Celgosivir: key facts, 2006

Table 38: Global sales forecast for celgosivir, 2009-2015

Table 39: Comparative global sales forecasts for small molecule antivirals, 2009-2015

Table 40: Recently discontinued small molecule HCV antivirals

Table 41: UT-231B Phase II clinical trial design

Table 42: Key late-stage immunomodulators, 2006

Table 43: CpG 10101: key facts

Table 44: 12-week data of a CpG 10101 Phase Ib trial suggest that triple combination therapy together with Peg-IFN and RBV is the most effective treatment strategy

Table 45: Global sales forecast for CpG 10101, 2009-2015

Table 46: Recently discontinued small molecule HCV antivirals

Table 47: Developmental HCV drugs in Phase I, June 2006

Table 48: Therapeutic vaccines in development for the treatment of chronic HCV, 2006

Table 49: Drugs in development for the prevention of HCV re-infection post-transplant and HCV-related liver disease, 2006

Table 50: Developmental HCV drugs with uncertain commercial potential, 2006

Table 51: Zadaxin: key facts

Table 52: Virostat: key facts

Table 53: AVI-4065: key facts

Table 54: Treatment rates in the seven major markets

Table 55: Estimations of price premiums

Table 56: Forecast for viramidine in the US, 2009-2015

Table 57: Average clinical development times for developmental HCV drugs

Table 58: US patent expiry dates for HCV pipeline drugs




List of Figures

Figure 1: The global HCV market, 2002-2015

Figure 2: HCV market share by company, 2005, 2010 and 2015

Figure 3: Key unmet needs in HCV

Figure 4: Performance of key late-stage developmental drugs against key unmet needs

Figure 5: The number of possible combinations for commercially attractive developmental drug classes are numerous

Figure 6: Small molecule antivirals dominate the HCV pipeline

Figure 7: HCV pipeline: number of compounds per class and phase of clinical development, 2006

Figure 8: Estimated US launches of forecast HCV pipeline drugs, 2006-11

Figure 9: Performance of key late-stage developmental drugs against the three most important unmet needs

Figure 10: The global HCV market 2005, 2010 and 2015

Figure 11: HCV market share by company, 2005, 2010 and 2015

Figure 12: Roche has rapidly established itself in the chronic HCV market in 2002-05

Figure 13: Pegasys has been approved for six viral hepatitis indications

Figure 14: Pegasys is being used in most late-stage combination trials

Figure 15: Peg-Intron sales, US, M5EU and Japan, 2002-05

Figure 16: Vertex product pipeline, June 2006

Figure 17: Genotypes 1a and 1b combined account for over 70% of HCV infections in the US, 2006

Figure 18: The HCV genotype distribution in France has changed, mainly due to an increase in intravenous drug use

Figure 19: Injection drug use accounts for the majority of recent HCV infections

Figure 20: Over decades, HCV silently progresses to liver cirrhosis and cancer

Figure 21: Most chronic HCV patients present with significant fibrosis at first diagnosis

Figure 22: In the US, demand for liver transplantation far outstrips supply, 1993-2004

Figure 23: Estimated HCV prevalence by WHO region, 1999

Figure 24: Geographic differences and temporal trends of HCV epidemiology

Figure 25: Chronic HCV is more common in males and individuals of African origin

Figure 26: Chronic HCV patients can be segmented by treatment status, HCV genotype, viral co-infection and the stage of the underlying liver disease

Figure 27: Factors favoring and complicating HCV therapy in HIV/HCV co-infected patients

Figure 28: Higher efficacy clearly remains the most important unmet need, followed by better tolerability

Figure 29: New drug development needs to focus on patient subgroups other than white patients infected with HCV genotypes 2 or 3

Figure 30: Evolution of chronic HCV therapy in the US since the launch of Intron A in 1991

Figure 31: Strategies for tailoring HCV therapy to the individual patient

Figure 32: HCV genome organization

Figure 33: Key factors increasing the complexity of HCV trial design

Figure 34: Stratification of patients for clinical trial enrollment

Figure 35: Nonresponders and relapsers, predominantly those infected with HCV genotype 1, are now commonly enrolled in early-stage clinical trials

Figure 36: The number of possible combinations for commercially attractive developmental drug classes are numerous

Figure 37: Virological response: timepoints and definitions

Figure 38: Global sales forecast for Albuferon, 2010-2015

Figure 39: US Phase II trial design

Figure 40: Viramidine Phase II trial results

Figure 41: Global sales forecast for viramidine, 2009-2015

Figure 42: Global sales forecast for NM283, 2009-2015

Figure 43: PROVE 1 is designed to assess the ability of VX-950 to achieve SVR in 260 treatment-naïve patients receiving VX-950 therapy for 12 weeks

Figure 44: PROVE 2 is designed to assess the ability of VX-950 to achieve SVR in 320 treatment-naïve patients receiving VX-950 therapy for 12 weeks, with or without RBV

Figure 45: Global sales forecast for VX-950, 2009-2015

Figure 46: Global sales forecast for SCH-503034, 2009-2015

Figure 47: Global sales forecast for celgosivir, 2009-2015

Figure 48: Comparative global sales forecasts for small molecule antivirals, 2009-2015

Figure 49: Global sales forecast for CpG 10101, 2009-2015

Abstract

Introduction

An estimated 10 million people in the seven major markets have chronic HCV. The current standard of care, pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV), achieves long-term disease remission in approximately half of those receiving treatment. More efficacious therapies are required to improve treatment success in difficult-to-treat patients, in particular patients with HCV genotype 1.

Scope
  • Comprehensive overview of compounds in clinical development for HCV, including interferons, small molecule antivirals and immunomodulators
  • Revenue forecasts from 20062015 for key late-stage compounds and the HCV market as a whole
  • Appraisal of clinical trial design highlighting the rising complexity associated with patient stratification and the trend towards multidrug therapy
  • Expert opinion on late-stage drugs and their potential use, outlook on HCV therapy evolution and analysis of prevailing unmet needs
Highlights

Concomitant with new drug launches from 2009 onwards, the HCV market is estimated to double by 2010 and potentially quadruple by 2015. Growth will be driven mainly by the rapid uptake of new drugs, the premium prices these will be able to command and the expected increase in treatment rates.

Vertex' protease inhibitor VX-950 is the most promising antiviral in late-stage development. The drug has demonstrated potent reduction of HCV RNA following 14 or 28 days of therapy, prompting Vertex to assess the ability of VX-950 to shorten treatment duration to 12 weeks. Blockbuster potential will be conditional on favorable long-term toxicity.

HCV therapy is expected to evolve towards multidrug therapy consisting of drugs with complementary mechanisms of action. In an increasingly crowded market, attributes other than efficacy will gain importance, including favorable tolerability, convenient dosing, and lack of drug-drug interactions, particularly in HIV/HCV co-infection.

Reasons to Purchase
  • Understand key growth drivers in the mid to long-term HCV market and quantify the future size, scope and potential for new products
  • Optimize R&D strategies and clinical trial design in line with evolving treatment paradigms
  • Benchmark the HCV pipeline against currently marketed products and market needs


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