title: Valopicitabine dihydrochloride:a specific polymerase inhibitor of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc and Novartis AG are codeveloping valopicitabine dihydrochloride, a once-daily oral nucleoside for the potential treatment of HCV infection. In January 2005, a phase IIa clinical trial comparing valopicitabine dihydrochloride with pegylated IFN in treatment-naive HCV patients was ongoing, in addition to a phase IIb trial in patients that had previously failed pegylated IFN and ribavirin combination therapy. In January 2006, an international phase III trial in treatment-refractory patients was planned for the first half of the year, with a phase III trial in treatment-naive individuals planned for the second half of the year.
authors.affiliation: University of Udine, Internal Medicine, Medical Liver Transplantation Unit, DPMSC, Piazzale SM della Misericordia 1, Udine 33100, Italy. pierluigi.toniutto@uniud.it
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toniutto
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bitetto
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fornasiere
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rapetti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirisi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C506207:valopicitabine