Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

HEPTATIS C VIRUS (HCV) INFECTIONHCV infection represents a significant global burden withhigh prevalence and death rates.Estimated chronic HCVinfections in 2012200Most HCV infectionsbecome chronicInfections often go unnoticed due toa lack of symptoms but, if left untreated,complications can be fatal.150,000,000100disease can progress with fewsymptoms for many years20120acutecan be resolvedwithin six months4 OUT OF 5 BECOMECHRONICchroniccan last a lifetimeand needs treatmentsevere liver inflammation withlong-term complicationsliver failure and potentialtransplantHIGH DISEASE BURDENOF HEPATITIS CDespite recent treatment progress, the burden of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection on patients and physicians remains huge. BoehringerIngelheim is researching a better HCV medication that reduces thechallenge and the burden for the patient.HEPATITIS C VIRUS(HCV)Hepatitis C virus is a smallenveloped virus containing apositive-strand RNA genome.HCVerso clinical trial programmeWe maintain a rigorous HCV clinicaltrial programme, HCVerso, designedto find solutions to the challenges ofthis disease.Our clinical research extends to diverseHCV patient populations across theworld, including HIV co-infected patientsand those who have previouslyfailed treatment. The aim is to improvecure rates, shorten treatment and eliminateinterferon, which is the backbone ofcurrent HCV treatment and is associatedwith severe side effects, including heartfailure, blood poisoning, white blood cellreduction, depression and vision loss.Our HCV portfolioThe portfolio is directed towards advancinginhibitors that target essentialviral enzymes, such as the HCV serineprotease and RNA polymerase. We areinvestigating the two direct-acting antivirals(DAA) faldaprevir and BI 207127.FaldaprevirFaldaprevir, a potent investigationalnext-wave once-daily HCV NS3/4Aprotease inhibitor, is designed to targetthe viral reservoir within the liver andinhibit viral replication. The compoundis optimised to target genotype 1 HCV,the most difficult type to effectivelycure with current therapy.Phase III trial programmeSTARTVersoThe nearly completed multistudy phaseIII trial programme, STARTVerso,evaluates faldaprevir combined withpegulated inferon/ribavirin in bothtreatment-naïve, experienced and HIVco-infected patients with chronic genotype1 HCV.52 Boehringer Ingelheim annual report 2012