Clinical trials have begun to test the safety and tolerability of two nucleotide drugs that will serve as hepatitis C treatments.

The trials that will begin today in Cambridge, MA. will be conducted by Vertex Pharmaceuticals an Alios BioPharma, makers of nucleotide analogues ALS-2200 and ALS-2158. These drugs inhibit a specific enzyme in those with chronic genotype-1 hepatitis C.

“These studies are an important step in our ongoing efforts to strength our leadership position in hepatitis C by developing all-oral regimens that could further improve the future treatment of this disease,” Dr. Peter Mueller, the chief scientific officer and executive vice president of global research and development  at Vertex, said in a news release. He went on to say that these studies may lead the way into a higher level of drug development for this condition using nucleotide-based regimens by the end of 2012.

There will be two seven-day studies, which will be double-blind and placebo-controlled. One will evaluate single doses of each drug in healthy individuals and multiple doses of the nucleotides in hepatitis C patients, while the other will focus on combination regimens. Results of the clinical trials are expected to be released by early-to-mid 2012.

ALS-2200 and ALS-2158 are engineered to stop the hepatitis C virus from progressing.