Schering-Plough announces research update

Schering-Plough has announced an update on its boceprevir clinical research.

It is the company’s lead investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor – currently in phase III development – and has been said by the organisation to have the potential to be a best-in-class inhibitor to fight the condition.

Additionally, Schering-Plough said it is researching a highly potent next-generation oral version of the product.

The update was given as part of the company’s 2008 Research and Development meeting at its headquarters in Kenilworth, US.

Executive vice-president and president of the Schering-Plough Research Institute Thomas Koestler said: “As pioneers in the hepatitis field, our vision is to apply our experience and innovation, as we have in the past, to continue to redefine and improve treatments for chronic hepatitis C.”

In the meeting, the company also said the phase II study of a 48-week boceprevir regiment achieved a 75 per cent sustained virologic response rate at 24 weeks after the end of treatment.

Earlier this month, Schering-Plough, in collaboration with BioteCanada, awarded a prize to Dr Etienne Gagnon of Harvard Medical School, US.

He was presented with this year’s Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) BioteCanada/Schering-Plough Canada Fellowship.