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Bristol-Myers Squibb discontinues development of HCV treatment

Development of a treatment for hepatitis C recently was halted by Bristol-Myers Squibb because of safety concerns, according to a press release.

The company suspended a phase 2 study of nucleotide polymerase inhibitor BMS-986094 this month after a patient developed and died from heart failure, and the FDA placed a clinical hold on the treatment. According to the release, eight other participants have been hospitalized because of heart and kidney toxicity. The cause of these adverse events has yet to be fully determined.

“The decision to halt development of BMS-986094 has been guided by our overriding interest in protecting patients,” Elliott Sigal, MD, PhD, executive vice president and chief scientific officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, said in the release. “In the interest of all patients participating in hepatitis C clinical studies, and in cooperation with the FDA, we will make relevant information on BMS-986094 available to inform the development of other investigational compounds to treat hepatitis C. We will also work expeditiously to share the results of our further investigations more broadly in the medical and scientific community.”