Merck praises efforts to boost chronic HCV treatment for veterans

Merck has hailed recent efforts to ensure veterans with the chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection get access to the treatment they need.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Zepatier (elbasvir and grazoprevir) in adult patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 or GT4 infection, with or without ribavirin, earlier this year.

Chronic HCV is particularly widespread among the veteran population, but the Department of Veterans Affairs believes only about 20 per cent of these have been treated with direct acting anti-viral regimens over the last two years.

However, it is actively seeking to increase this figure and get treatment to those who need it most – and won praise from Merck as a result.

Sloan Gibson, deputy secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs, commented: "As the single largest provider of chronic hepatitis C care in the United States, our goal has been to treat every veteran with HCV infection. We are grateful to Congress and to pharmaceutical leaders like Merck that are committed to our Veterans who have nobly served our nation."