TMC435 is being investigated for treatment of chronic HCV infection, in combination with Peg-IFN (pegylated interferon) and RBV (ribavirin). Peg-IFN plus RBV are currently an accepted methods for treating HCV. Treatment with Peg-IFN plus RBV for HCV infection is associated with a high rate of depression. The results of this study will provide dosing recommendations for coadministration of TMC435 and escitalopram in HCV-infected patients. This is a Phase I, open-label (both participant and investigator know the name of the medication) , randomized (study medication assigned by chance), crossover trial in 18 healthy participants to investigate the pharmacokinetic interaction between escitalopram and TMC435, both at steady state. Steady state is a term which means that the drug has been given long enough so that the plasma concentrations will remain the same with each subsequent dose. The participants will receive three treatments (treatment A-B-C) in a randomized order. In Treatment A, participants will receive TMC435 150 mg q.d. In Treatment B, participants will receive escitalopram 10 mg q.d. In treatment C, participants will receive escitalopram 10 mg q.d. and TMC435 150 mg q.d. All treatments will be administered for 7 days and with food. There will be a washout period (a period where no treatment will be taken in view of having all the medication eliminated from the body before starting a new treatment) of at least 10 days between last intake of study medication in one session and first intake of study medication in the subsequent session. Pharmacokinetic profiles of the two compounds will be measured through blood samples taken at regular intervals during the study and safety and tolerability will be assessed during the study period and in follow-up. Safety and tolerability evaluations will be recorded at regular intervals throughout the trial period. Blood and urine samples, electrocardiogram (ECG) and vital signs (blood pressure and heart rate) will be taken at screening, before medication intake on days 1 and 7 and on Day 8 in each session and at the 2 follow up visits at 1 week and 4-5 weeks after last dose of drug in the last session. A physical examination will be performed at screening, on day -1 (= day before day of first medication intake in each session) and during the 2 follow up visits. On the morning before first medication intake (in the first session only) a blood sample will be taken to examine your CYP2C19 genes, which are responsible for the production of enzymes that determine the breakdown of drugs in your body. The results of this study will provide dosing recommendations for coadministration of TMC435 and escitalopram in HCV-infected patients. Participants will receive in treatment A TMC435 150 mg q.d., in treatment B participants will receive escitalopram 10 mg and in treatment C participants will receive escitalopram 10 mg q.d. + TMC435 150 mg q.d. All treatments will be administered for 7 days and with food.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of steady-state concentrations of TMC435 150mg q.d. (once a day) on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of escitalopram 10 mg q.d., and vice versa. Steady state is a term which means that the drug has been given long enough so that the plasma concentrations will remain the same with each subsequent dose. TMC435 is being investigated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Pharmacokinetics (pk) means how the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream, distributed in the body and eliminated from the body.