Achillion Pharmaceuticals TheStreet.com's Feurstein: Achillion has a pipeline of hepatitis C drugs, the most valuable, perhaps, is ACH-3422, a nucleotide NS5B polyermase inhibitor
With Merck gobbling up Idenix Pharmaceuticals, the hepatitis C takeout speculation shifts to Achillion Pharmaceuticals. Using the Idenix premium, an acquisition of Achillion would be considerably cheaper -- less than $1 billion at Friday's closing stock price.
Like Idenix, Achillion has a pipeline of hepatitis C drugs. The most valuable, perhaps, is ACH-3422, a nucleotide NS5B polyermase inhibitor. The conventional thinking is that so-called "nucs" are the linchpin of hepatitis C combination therapy. Gilead Sciences' (GILD) Sovaldi is a nuc and will likely generate $9-10 billion in sales this year. Idenix is developing a nuc, which is probably why Merck acquired the company.