Atea Pharmaceuticals Completes Patient Enrollment in North American Phase 3 Trial Evaluating Regimen of Bemnifosbuvir and Ruzasvir for Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus

Core Insights - Atea Pharmaceuticals has completed enrollment of over 880 treatment-naïve patients in the C-BEYOND Phase 3 trial for HCV treatment, with topline results expected by mid-2026 [2][4] - The C-FORWARD Phase 3 trial, which is being conducted outside North America, is also expected to complete enrollment by mid-2026, with results anticipated by the end of 2026 [3][4] Group 1: Trial Details - C-BEYOND and C-FORWARD are the first global Phase 3 head-to-head trials comparing the fixed-dose combination (FDC) of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir against sofosbuvir and velpatasvir for HCV treatment [2][3] - Each trial is enrolling approximately 880 treatment-naïve patients, with the C-BEYOND trial conducted in the US and Canada, and C-FORWARD in up to 17 countries outside North America [3][5] - The FDC regimen of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir is administered orally once-daily for 8 weeks for patients without cirrhosis and 12 weeks for those with compensated cirrhosis, while the comparator regimen is given for 12 weeks to all patients [3][5] Group 2: HCV Context - HCV remains a significant global health issue, with up to 4 million people in the US and an estimated 50 million worldwide infected, alongside approximately one million new infections each year [4][8] - Despite the availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), HCV diagnoses in the US continue to outpace annual cure rates, highlighting the need for new treatment options [4][8] - Approximately 80% of HCV patients are on multiple medications for comorbidities, which complicates treatment due to concerns about drug-drug interactions [4][8] Group 3: Company Overview - Atea Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing oral antiviral therapies for serious viral infections, leveraging its expertise in antiviral drug development and nucleos(t)ide chemistry [9] - The company's lead program involves the bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir regimen aimed at treating HCV, with a goal to create a best-in-class treatment that addresses patient needs effectively [4][9]