Preclinical data presented on new Hepatitis C protease inhibitor

Tibotec and Medivir scientists will jointly present the first preclinical data on TMC435350 at the 14th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses in Glasgow, Scotland later this week.

The poster by Simmen et al. entitled “Preclinical Characterization of TMC435350, a novel macrocyclic inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A serine protease” demonstrates the ability of the compound to reduce the amount of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in laboratory replicon experiments via protease inhibition. Combination of TMC435350 with interferon is also reported to enhance RNA reduction (>4 logs reduction in the replicon model), and to suppress the appearance of drug-resistance. Given its in vitro antiviral activity and encouraging preclinical drug-like profile, TMC435350 is currently undergoing phase I clinical trials.

The phase I program commenced in Europe in February 2007. The first clinical safety and pharmacokinetic data will be presented later this year at the AASLD Liver Meeting in Boston.

For additional information, please contact
Rein Piir, CFO & VP, Investor Relations, at Medivir +46 8 5468 3123 or
+46 708 5327 292.

For further information on Medivir, please see our website: www.medivir.se