Merck Sharp and Dohme discontinues development of hepatitis C therapies

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced that it is halting the development of the hepatitis C therapies MK-3682B and MK-3682C for strategic reasons.

The company is discontinuing its research into the grazoprevir/ruzasvir/uprifosbuvir and ruzasvir/uprifosbuvir combination regimens, based on a review of available phase II efficacy data and a consideration of the evolving marketplace.

It has been deemed that the growing number of treatment options available for this condition – including Merck's own Zepatier – means there is no need to continue its work on the new regimens.

However, the company will continue to study Zepatier to gain a better understanding of its role in treating hepatitis C, with the aim of bringing it to a broader population of patients.

Dr Eliav Barr, senior vice-president for global clinical development, infectious diseases and vaccines at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "Remarkable progress has been made in the fight against hepatitis C infection, and Merck is enormously proud of the role we have had in that fight over the past 30 years."

This follows a similar decision by Janssen last month to bring its hepatitis C research programme to an early end to focus instead on hepatitis B.

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