Merck Sharp and Dohme to present hepatitis insights at AASLD 2014

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced it will be attending the 2014 annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), where it will share its latest hepatitis C drug research findings.

New data from clinical studies of the company's investigational, oral, once-daily, fixed-dose combination chronic hepatitis C treatment grazoprevir/elbasvir will be presented at the conference, which takes place in Boston from November 7th to 11th.

The information will highlight the safety and efficacy of the new therapeutic approach among a number of patient groups, with two oral presentations and three poster presentations scheduled.

Additional findings on MK-3682, an oral nucleotide prodrug NS5B inhibitor acquired earlier this year as part of the purchase of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, will also be shared.

Dr Eliav Barr, vice-president for infectious diseases at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "Merck's broad and systematic hepatitis C clinical development programme is designed with this goal in mind, and is generating important insights into the potential of grazoprevir/elbasvir across multiple viral genotypes and patient populations."

Earlier this month, the company tightened its focus on its core research areas by completing the sale of its consumer care business to Bayer.