Simeprevir approved in the European Union for the treatment of adults with hepatitis C genotype 1 and 4 infection

  · OLYSIO™ (Simeprevir) provides a new triple therapy treatment option, as well
as the first ever 12-week interferon-free and ribavirin independent treatment
regimen, in combination with sofosbuvir, for appropriate patients in Europe

Stockholm, Sweden — Medivir AB (OMX: MVIR) today announces that simeprevir has
been granted marketing authorisation by the European Commission (EC) for the
treatment of adults with genotype 1 and 4 chronic hepatitis C in combination
with other medicinal products.

“The approval of simeprevir in Europe is a further step in our partner's global
strategy to enable an improved treatment for hepatitis C patients. This also
means that Medivir will now be able to offer this treatment to patients in the
Nordic region, where we have the marketing rights“, says Maris Hartmanis, CEO,
Medivir.

This marketing authorisation represents a significant milestone in the
development of new triple therapy hepatitis C (HCV) treatment options for
genotype 1 and 4 patients. It also includes simeprevir as part of an all oral 12
-week interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimen with or without
ribavirin (RBV), in genotype 1 or 4 patients, who are intolerant to or
ineligible for IFN treatment.


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* Treatment-naïve and prior relapse patients with cirrhosis who are co-infected
with HIV should receive 48 weeks of treatment. Treatment with simeprevir must be
initiated in combination with PegIFN + RBV and administered for 12 weeks and
then followed by an additional 36 weeks of PegIFN + RBV.

The EC approval for simeprevir with PegIFN + RBV is based on a clinical trial
programme involving three pivotal phase III studies, with over 1000 patients.
The trials; QUEST-1, QUEST-2 and PROMISE, explored the use of simeprevir in
combination with PegIFN/RBV in treatment-naïve patients and patients who have
relapsed after prior interferon-base treatment. All three studies met their
primary endpoints and demonstrated that simeprevir in combination with
PegIFN/RBV, achieves significant cure rates when compared with PegIFN/RBV alone.

The EC approval for the combination of simeprevir and sofosbuvir also contains
the phase II study, COSMOS. This was based upon prior null responder and
treatment-naïve patients.


For more information please contact:
Rein Piir, EVP Corporate Affairs & IR, mobile: +46 708 537 292

Medivir is required under the Securities Markets Act to make the information in
this press release public. The information was submitted for publication at
13.00 CET on 16 May 2014.

About Simeprevir
Simeprevir is an NS3/4A protease inhibitor jointly developed by Janssen R&D
Ireland and Medivir AB and indicated for the treatment chronic hepatitis C
infection in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in HCV genotype
1 and 4 infected patients with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis.

Janssen is responsible for the global clinical development of simeprevir and has
exclusive, worldwide marketing rights, except in the Nordic countries. Medivir
AB retains marketing rights for simeprevir in these countries under the
marketing authorization held by Janssen-Cilag International NV. Simeprevir was
approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection as part of an
antiviral treatment regimen in combination with pegylated interferon and
ribavirin in genotype 1 infected adults with compensated liver disease,
including cirrhosis in September 2013 in Japan, in November 2013 in Canada and
the U.S. and in March 2014 in Russia. Following the EMA approval, it is
anticipated that simeprevir will be available across a number of European Union
countries in conjunction with reimbursement, in the second half of 2014.

About Medivir
Medivir is an emerging research-based pharmaceutical company focused on
infectious diseases. Medivir has world class expertise in polymerase and
protease drug targets and drug development which has resulted in a strong
infectious disease R&D portfolio. The Company’s key pipeline asset is
simeprevir, a novel protease inhibitor for the treatment of hepatitis C that is
being developed in collaboration with Janssen R&D Ireland. The company is also
working with research and development in other areas, such as bone disorders and
neuropathic pain. Medivir has also a broad product portfolio with prescription
pharmaceuticals in the Nordics.