Merck Sharp and Dohme reports positive data for new HIV therapy

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced results from a phase III clinical trial demonstrating the effectiveness of a promising new HIV therapy.

Data from the phase III C-EDGE CO-STAR clinical trial indicated the efficacy and safety of the investigational once-daily elbasvir/grazoprevir tablet in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotypes 1, 4 or 6 infection who inject drugs and are receiving opioid agonist therapy. 

It was shown that 95 percent of patients treated with the elbasvir/grazoprevir therapy for 12 weeks achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the completion of treatment.

Moreover, adherence to treatment was shown to be high, with 97 percent of patients taking at least 95 percent of their prescribed study medication over the 12 weeks of therapy.

Dr Eliav Barr, vice-president for infectious diseases at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "This is one of the largest clinical trials to date evaluating an all-oral, once-daily, ribavirin-free investigational treatment regimen for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection on opioid agonist therapy."

The company marked the 30th anniversary of its first research and development programme in the field of HIV and AIDS earlier this year.