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Virology

Doctor holding patient hand

Roche’s research in virology addresses a growing medical concern and a major challenge for public health. The vision is to change the way viral diseases are treated in order to find cures for chronic viral infections.

Focus on Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is on the rise in the Western world as well as in many emerging markets.

Roche’s experience and expertise in HCV enables our scientists to develop broad-spectrum anti-virals to treat flaviviruses.

The goal is to create the broadest range of tolerable and efficacious options for patients by identifying and targeting the genomic factors associated with viral disease, drug resistance and individual variation in therapeutic response.

Roche is developing a number of potential new treatments for HCV infection, focusing on two mechanisms of action: polymerase inhibition and protease inhibition. Compounds from both classes are being studied in combination with Pegasys and Copegus. Currently, one Hepatitis C projects is in phase 1 and one in phase 2; as well as one Roche-discovered compound in phase II.

Another area of focus: human papilloma virus (HPV)

According to the World Health Organisation, over 400 million women worldwide have HPV infection. Ninety percent clear the virus naturally within two years but the remaining 10% develop a chronic infection leading to about 470,000 deaths per year.

Roche is on the forefront to exploit novel approaches that drive towards eradication (e.g., human papilloma virus) to support our partner Transgene. Transgene is developing a therapeutic vaccine against HPV, currently in phase II and represented by project R3484 in our portfolio.

The virology portfolio brings together the best of external and internal innovation, reflecting Roche’s philosophy that no one company can have a monopoly on innovation.

Three of the projects in early development are with external partners:

  • A polymerase inhibitor targeting HCV from Pharmasset
  • A protease inhibitor targeting HCV from Intermune

And a potential therapeutic vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV) from Transgene.