Date: 2011-05-17
Type of information: Collaboration agreement
Compound: Victrelis® (boceprevir)
Company: Merck&Co (USA) Roche (Switzerland)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement: collaboration co-promotion
Action mechanism: Victrelis® is an hepatitis C protease inhibitor,
Disease: Hepatitis C
Details: Merck &Co has entered into agreements with Roche, through their respective subsidiaries, to improve treatment, diagnosis and awareness of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection in developed and emerging markets. In addition, researchers affiliated with both companies will collaborate to examine novel combinations of marketed and investigational medicines from both organizations to expedite the availability of potential new treatment regimens for patients with HCV. Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreements, Roche will promote Victrelis® (boceprevir) to physicians as part of a triple combination therapy regimen, starting with the United States, and Merck and Roche will work together to educate physicians and patients about hepatitis C, including diagnosis. The companies are also working together to extend the agreement to other developed and emerging markets globally.
Financial terms: Financial details were not disclosed.
Latest news: Victrelis® was approved by the FDA on May 13 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients (18 years of age and older) with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis, who are previously untreated or who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy.
