Merck Inc., to withdraw Victrelis (boceprevir) from US as a treatment for Hepatitis C.
-Merck Inc., has notified the FDA that it will stop selling its Victrelis (boceprevir) treatment for Hepatitis C in the U.S. by the end of 2015, although the drug will remain available in other countries. This decision comes three months after Vertex Pharmaceuticals discontinued U.S. sales of its own Incivek (telaprevir) Hepatitis C drug.
Comment: These protease inhibitors had the disadvantage that they were injectable and were used in combination with interferon which was difficult to tolerate with its flu like symptoms. Sovaldi and Harvoni are oral single pills and have shorter treatment times and also can avoid the combination of interferon. Recently approved Viekira Pak triple therapy has also entered the Hepatitis scene with similar effectiveness but as a multi drug treatment treatment .
Learning Zones
The Learning Zones are an educational resource for healthcare professionals that provide medical information on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and burden of disease, as well as diagnostic techniques and treatment regimens.
2 mins