Author: Mark Mascolini
14 July 2008
Roche Holding AG will drop development of antiretroviral drugs because its pipeline apparently ran dry, Reuters NewMedia reports.
In a communication to activists, the company said it “decided to refocus our resources within virology on diseases in which we can deliver substantial improvements over existing medications.”
Roche scientists developed the nucleoside zalcitabine (ddC), which is no longer marketed, and saquinavir, one of the first protease inhibitors. With Trimeris, Roche currently markets the fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide. The company said it will continue to support its current products, as well as tests like its viral load assays.
Peter Staley of AIDSmed.com told Reuters he does not think Roche’s pullout is “a sign of a serious problem in pharma’s commitment” to HIV infection. But he called it “disappointing that there is one less big pharmaceutical company in this field.”
Roche announced that scientists working on HIV drug development will be reassigned to other fields.
Datamonitor, a market research firm, predicts that AIDS medicines will be a $10.6 billion market by 2015.
Source: Reuters NewMedia. Roche to suspend HIV research, seeing no advances. 11 July 2008.
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