Sofosbuvir
- Date
- 2007 · confidence high
- Place
- Pharmasset, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Credited to
- Michael J. Sofia
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
Sofia, a chemist at Pharmasset, discovered sofosbuvir, a nucleotide analogue that blocks the hepatitis C virus's NS5B polymerase. Combined into interferon-free oral regimens, it pushed cure rates above 90% in around 12-week treatments, versus the previous 6-12 months of injectable interferon.
Pharmasset was headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, though some of its chemistry research was also done in Georgia, US; Princeton is used here as the corporate headquarters.
What it led to
- An effective, well-tolerated cure for chronic hepatitis C
- Gilead Sciences' $11 billion acquisition of Pharmasset (2011)