Merck Sharpe and Dohme and Roche commence HCV studies

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has begun a new clinical partnership with Roche on the development of new therapy options for hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The companies have commenced the first of six planned clinical trials that will evaluate novel combinations of marketed and investigational medicines, which are designed to bring benefits to patients affected by chronic HCV genotype 1.

In this first trial, Merck Sharpe and Dohme's approved therapy Victrelis will be combined with Roche's investigational compound mericitabine, the pegylated interferon alfa-2a treatment Pegasys and the ribavirin treatment Copegus.

Dr Eliav Barr, vice-president for infectious diseases project leadership and management at Merck Research Laboratories, said this represents a key milestone in its ongoing collaboration with Roche.

He added that it "also emphasises our ongoing commitment to seeking novel treatment options for patients with chronic HCV".

This comes after the company published positive clinical data for its new multiple myeloma treatment Zolinza last week.