Merck and Roche sign hepatitis C co-promotion deal
pharmafile | May 18, 2011 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Merck, Roche, hepatitis C
Merck & Co and Roche have signed an agreement that will see them co-promote each other’s hepatitis C drugs in the US and increase awareness of the disease in emerging markets.
Victrelis (boceprevir), the Merck drug which this month became the first oral hepatitis C treatment approved by the FDA, will now also be promoted to health professionals by Roche’s Genentech arm.
It will be included by Genentech in presentations on the use of Roche’s own Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) – part of the current standard of care in chronic hepatitis C – in a triple combination therapy regimen.
The FDA has licensed Victrelis to treat hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, in combination with Pegasys and ribavirin, and Merck teams will also promote the established Roche treatment.
“Triple combination therapy for hepatitis C marks a major change in the way this disease is treated,” said Pascal Soriot, chief operating officer of Roche Pharmaceuticals Division. “The use of these medicines in combination offers better treatment outcomes for patients.”
Adam Schechter, Merck president, global human health, said: “These agreements are consistent with both companies’ goal of improving healthcare outcomes for patients with chronic hepatitis C.”
Researchers attached to Roche and Merck will also jointly look for novel combinations of marketed and investigational products from both manufacturers in the search for potential new treatments.
And the companies say they are working together to extend the agreement to other developed and emerging markets round the world.
“By working together we will be able to provide physicians, nurses and patients with education about the disease, its diagnosis and treatment options including the appropriate use of Victrelis,” Schechter added.
Merck has high hopes for Victrelis, a first-in-class hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor, which clinically cured about two-thirds of patients in late stage trials, compared with less than 40% on current therapies alone.
A combination of its trial results and oral formulation has seen analysts predict blockbuster sales of over $1 billion a year at its peak.
Adam Hill
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