Merck Sharpe and Dohme reports positive Victrelis trial data

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has published positive data from a phase III clinical trial involving its oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor Victrelis.

The boceprevir treatment was combined with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin therapy and trialled over a 48-week period among patients who had failed to respond to previous treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus.

It was found that the combination delivered a higher sustained virologic response than peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin alone, which was given to those in a control group, thus meeting the primary endpoint of the study.

Dr Steven Flamm, professor in hepatology medicine and surgery at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said: "These results are similar to those seen with the 48-week treatment regimen of Victrelis added to peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in HCV Respond-2, a pivotal phase III study."

Last month, Merck Sharpe and Dohme agreed a new collaboration with Lycera that will see the companies ally on the development of new autoimmune disease treatments.