Achillion Pharmaceuticals and J&J Were Slightly Down in Premarket Trading After the Discontinuation of Further Hepatitis C Treatment Investigation Was Announced

Johnson & Johnson with Achillion Pharmaceuticals were down slightly at more than 20 percent in premarket trading after the announcement of Janssen Sciences Ireland about the discontinuation of further development of hepatitis C treatment investigation. The Janssen authorities comment on that it was a strategic decision because of the number of brand new therapy for hepatitis C, and the number increases rapidly.

"Going forward, our hepatitis R&D efforts will focus on chronic hepatitis B, where a high unmet medical need still exists," comment on  Lawrence Blatt, global therapeutic area head, infectious disease therapeutics, Janssen.