Since INF + Riba tx has twice failed to render th HCV1a undetectable,
I'll wait for something new, this looks interesting. Maybe I shoulod
buy stock.

Steve
Choking on my liver

August 16, 2006
Milestone for Promising Hepatitis C Compound
The preliminary results from the Phase 1b study of a compound taken in
conjunction with pegylated interferon are expected later this month.
This proof of concept milestone indicates progress toward a feasible
and functional Hepatitis C treatment. The next step is a Phase 2 trial.
We will be anxiously awaiting the results and will report them to you
as soon as have them.

ViroPharma and Wyeth Announce Achievement of Proof of Concept Milestone
for HCV-796

- Companies Preparing to Initiate Phase 2 Clinical Evaluation -

EXTON, Pa. and COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) and Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) today
announced that while the analysis of data from their Phase 1b study of
HCV-796, an investigational oral non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus (HCV)
polymerase inhibitor, in combination with pegylated interferon, is
still ongoing, data analyzed to date indicate that HCV-796 has achieved
a "proof of concept" milestone under the companies' agreements. The
companies expect that preliminary data from the Phase 1b study will be
available for release by the end of August 2006. Based upon the
preliminary data reviewed to date, ViroPharma and Wyeth are preparing
to initiate Phase 2 combination studies of HCV-796. The companies
expect to begin dosing patients in the Phase 2 study in the fourth
quarter of 2006.

In connection with meeting the proof of concept milestone, ViroPharma
will issue to Wyeth 981,836 shares of ViroPharma's common stock for a
purchase price of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), which represents
the last of three stock purchases outlined in the companies'
agreements. The price per share for the stock was based on a premium to
a trailing average price.

"ViroPharma and Wyeth have been partners in hepatitis C antiviral
development since 1999; through the years, our goal has been to
identify, develop and eventually market drugs to treat hepatitis C
patients," said Michel de Rosen, ViroPharma's president and chief
executive officer. "HCV-796 is the most promising compound we have
developed together to date, and we look forward to announcing the Phase
1b data later this month. The achievement of this milestone and
progression toward Phase 2 clinical trials marks an exciting time for
us, and a promising opportunity for patients with HCV."

"With HCV-796, we now have for the first time in our collaboration a
unique compound with a novel mechanism of action that has achieved
proof of concept in combination with pegylated interferon," commented
Robert Ruffolo, Ph.D., Wyeth Pharmaceutical's president of research.
"We are excited to reach this milestone and to be collaborating with
ViroPharma to move this promising compound toward Phase 2 trials."

In December 1999, ViroPharma and Wyeth entered into an alliance to
develop and commercialize ViroPharma's lead small molecule antiviral
drug candidates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to discover, develop
and commercialize additional novel inhibitors of HCV. In this
agreement, Wyeth agreed to purchase shares of ViroPharma's common stock
at the time of completion of certain product development milestones.
Under rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
ViroPharma is required to publicly file, via Form 8-K, the fact that
common stock is being issued in connection with the achievement of the
proof of concept milestone.

About HCV-796

HCV-796 is an investigational non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor
compound for the treatment of hepatitis C that is being evaluated in
ongoing clinical trials in combination with PEG-Interferon by
ViroPharma and Wyeth.