Schering-Plough announces HCV presentations

At the annual meeting of Digestive Disease Week held this week, Schering-Plough has presented information on studies of its therapies for hepatitis, including those for its Pegintron (peginterferon alfa-2b) ad Rebetol (ribavirin, USP) combination treatment for chronic hepatitis C (HCV).

Pegintron is currently approved for use in the US as a monotherapy or in conjunction with Rebetol as a treatment for chronic HCV in compensated liver disease patients not previously treated with interferon alpha.

In total, the company exhibited 20 oral and poster presentations at the meeting, held at the Washington Convention Centre, with the firm reporting on the clinical development of orally administered HCV protease inhibitor boceprevir (SCH 503034).

“Schering-Plough also is conducting a large phase II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of boceprevir in combination with Pegintron and Rebetol in patients chronically infected with HCV genotype one who were null responders to previous peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy,” the company reports

This ongoing study, taking place in Europe and the US, involves around 350 patients and aims to develop treatments for a patient population with a high rate of unmet medical need.

In April 2007, Schering-Plough restated its commitment to developing treatments for HCV at a meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver taking place in Barcelona.