Merck Sharpe and Dohme to showcase new Victrelis data

Merck Sharpe and Dohme will be presenting new clinical data on its oral hepatitis C treatment Victrelis at a forthcoming event in Barcelona.

The company will attend the International Liver Congress/European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) annual meeting later this month in order to showcase several new data analyses from Victrelis studies.

Results from one study will compare ribavirin dose reduction and use of erythropoietin as methods of anaemia management among Victrelis patients, while another will demonstrate the effectiveness of retreatment with the drug.

In total, more than a dozen abstracts will be presented on various approved and investigational Merck therapies.

Dr Eliav Barr, vice-president for infectious diseases, project leadership and management at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "Merck remains committed to investigating therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and we are excited to share new data on Victrelis at this year's EASL congress in Barcelona."

Earlier this month, the company reported a new alliance with Codexis to create an efficient enzyme-based production method for Victrelis.