- Late breaker poster presentation will feature updated SVR results from the Phase 2 trial of ACH-3102, NS5A inhibitor, plus sofosbuvir for the eight-week treatment of genotype 1 HCV -

- Three preclinical posters on ACH-3422, uridine-analog nucleotide prodrug, to be presented –

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHN) today announced four abstracts have been accepted for presentation at The Liver Meeting® 2014, the 65^th Annual Meeting of The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), in Boston, November 7 – 11.

A late breaker poster presentation will be made providing updated results, including SVR12, from an ongoing Phase 2 proxy study evaluating ACH-3102, Achillion's second-generation NS5A inhibitor, in combination with sofosbuvir, without ribavirin, for eight weeks of treatment in patients with treatment-naïve genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This trial is currently dosing patients in a follow-on six-week treatment cohort.

Furthermore, three additional posters will be presented detailing the preclinical profile of ACH-3422, a uridine-analog nucleotide that continues to advance through its Phase 1 clinical development program.

David Apelian, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice Present and Chief Medical Officer, commented, "We are delighted that Achillion's ongoing research into HCV with ACH-3102 will be featured in a late breaker poster presentation during the 2014 Liver Meeting. Furthermore, as we work to complete the Phase 1 trial of ACH-3422, we are pleased to have the opportunity to present new preclinical research detailing the profile of ACH-3422."

Publication No. LB-23

Title: Interim sustained virologic response (SVR), safety and tolerability results of 8-week treatment with ACH-3102 and sofosbuvir in chronic hepatitis C (HCV), genotype-1 (GT-1), treatment-naïve patients: a Phase 2 "proxy" study

Authors: E. Gane, H. Kocinsky, C. Schwabe, et al.

Date/Time: Monday, November 10^th, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET.

Session: Late-Breaking Poster Session

Room: John B. Hynes Convention Center, Hall C

Publication No. 1978

Title: ACH-3422, a novel HCV NS5B RNA polymerase nucleotide inhibitor, demonstrates improved potency over sofosbuvir against HCV genotype-3 replicons in vitro

Authors: Y. Zhao, S. Podos, J. Fabrycki, et al.

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 11^th, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET.

Session: Hepatitis C: Preclinical Development Poster Session

Room: John B. Hynes Convention Center, Hall C

Publication No. 1982

Title: A novel approach to HCV resistance selection featuring short treatment duration and reduced interference from host cell adaptation

Authors: J. Fabrycki, Y. Zhao, D. Patel, et al.

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 11^th, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET.

Session: Hepatitis C: Preclinical Development Poster Session

Room: John B. Hynes Convention Center, Hall C

Publication No. 1985

Title: Antiviral activity and resistance emergence: combinations of the NS5B nucleotide inhibitor ACH-3422 with other antiviral agents in vitro

Authors: D. Patel, Y. Zhao, J. Fabrycki, et al.

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 11^th, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET.

Session: Hepatitis C: Preclinical Development Poster Session

Room: John B. Hynes Convention Center, Hall C

Additional information including the date and time of presentations are provided below. Reprints of the posters will be made available on the Company's website at www.achillion.com/resources and accessible after presentation at AASLD.

About HCV

The hepatitis C virus is the most common cause of viral hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver. It is currently estimated that more than 150 million people are infected with HCV worldwide including more than 5 million people in the United States. Three-fourths of the HCV patient population is undiagnosed; it is a silent epidemic and a major global health threat. Chronic hepatitis, if left untreated, can lead to permanent liver damage that can result in the development of liver cancer, liver failure or death.

About Achillion Pharmaceuticals

Achillion is an innovative pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing important new treatments to patients with infectious disease. Achillion's discovery, clinical development, and commercial teams have advanced multiple novel product candidates with proven mechanisms of action into studies and toward the market. Achillion is focused on solutions for the most challenging problems in infectious disease including HCV and resistant bacterial infections. For more information on Achillion Pharmaceuticals, please visit www.achillion.com or call 1-203-624-7000.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the Company's expectations about the expected benefits of its recently issued patents on ACH-3012. Achillion may use words such as "expect," "anticipate," "project," "intend," "plan," "aim," "believe," "seek," " estimate," "can," "focus," "will," and "may" and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things Achillion's ability to: obtain and maintain patent protection for its drug candidates and the freedom to operate under third party intellectual property; demonstrate in any current and future clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and combinability of its drug candidates; advance the preclinical and clinical development of its drug candidates, including ACH-3422, ACH-3102 and sovaprevir, under the timelines it projects in current and future clinical trials; obtain and maintain necessary regulatory approvals; establish commercial manufacturing arrangements; identify, enter into and maintain collaboration agreements with appropriate third-parties; compete successfully with other companies that are seeking to develop improved therapies for the treatment of HCV; manage expenses; manage litigation; raise the substantial additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives; and successfully execute on its business strategies. These and other risks are described in the reports filed by Achillion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and its subsequent SEC filings.

In addition, any forward-looking statement in this press release represents Achillion's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Achillion disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.