Achillion Pharmaceuticals announced a poster presentation detailing the preclinical profile of ACH-3422, a uridine-analog nucleotide prodrug being advanced for the potential treatment of chronic hepatitis C viral infection. The poster presentation details the potent and specific inhibition of HCV NS5B polymerase by ACH-3422, and the demonstrated low risk for mitochondrial toxicity based upon in vitro studies with human cells in static and proliferating conditions, and high efficiency in the conversion of ACH-3422 into the triphosphate within human hepatocyte cell lines. These attributes, combined with the previously reported 14-day animal toxicity study of ACH-3422, continue to support the advancement of this compound toward clinical studies for use in combination with other direct acting antiviral agents for the potential pan-genotypic treatment of chronic HCV, the company said, adding, "These data provide additional insight into the compelling profile of ACH-3422 as a potential NS5B nucleotide inhibitor for the broad treatment of HCV. Based upon our current development timelines, we anticipate initiating our first-in-human and proof-of-concept trials with ACH-3422 during the first half of 2014."