By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: FDA Approves Oral Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitor
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > FDA Approves Oral Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitor
Business

FDA Approves Oral Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitor

BarbaraDuck
BarbaraDuck
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Hepatitis C is getting some good news as last month another drug went into clinical trials.  Also Merck will include VICTRELIS  in the patient assistance program through which eligible patients may be able to receive product free of charge.  This is the first  new treatment in 20 years.  In the trials more than 65% of the patients were cured, good news there.  The dosage is taken 3 times a day, a pill with meals. 

Hepatitis C is getting some good news as last month another drug went into clinical trials.  Also Merck will include VICTRELIS  in the patient assistance program through which eligible patients may be able to receive product free of charge.  This is the first  new treatment in 20 years.  In the trials more than 65% of the patients were cured, good news there.  The dosage is taken 3 times a day, a pill with meals. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Receives FDA Fast Track Approval for Hepatitis C Virus Treatment and Moves In To Phase 3 Trials

Hepatitis C is the primary cause of liver transplants un the US so sales are predicted to be pretty large with over 3 million in the US having the disease.  One of the benefits of the drug is that the length of time for a cure is less than current treatments.  BD 

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., May 13, 2011 – Merck (NYSE:MRK) (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VICTRELIS™ (boceprevir), the company’s innovative new medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). VICTRELIS is approved for the treatment of CHC 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.

VICTRELIS is the first in a new class of medicines known as hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitors approved for use in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, which is the current standard therapy, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

“Compared to current standard therapy, VICTRELIS can significantly increase a patient’s chance of achieving undetectable levels of the virus, thereby obtaining an SVR. For many patients, VICTRELIS may allow for a shorter total duration of treatment.”

Merck will begin shipping VICTRELIS to pharmacies within a week so that patients will have access to this new medication as soon as possible. In addition, the company is expanding its support of public awareness and education programs for chronic hepatitis C. Resources include coupons to help eligible patients with their medication cost, reimbursement support to help patients understand their insurance coverage for VICTRELIS, and 24/7 nurse phone support.

http://www.merck.com/newsroom/news-release-archive/prescription-medicine-news/2011_0513.html?WT.svl=content&WT.pi=content+Views

More Read

Is eCommerce For Your Health Business The Right Move?
Get Your Yearly Health Screenings, Earn an iPhone: Are Healthcare Incentive Programs Coming to U.S. Healthcare?
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Impact on the Future Healthcare Workforce
4 Tips For Home Health Care Agencies To Survive The Worker Shortage
Immunovaccine Raises Money, Has 3 Cancer Vaccine Trials in the Works

 

TAGGED:FDAhealth care businesshepatitis C
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

A doctor in scrubs holding a computer
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

How to Manage the Online Reputation of Your Medical Practice

March 8, 2016

Advance Practice Nurse Solution: Making Healthcare Affordable for All

August 5, 2012
Physician Marketing, Podcasts
BusinesseHealth

3 Great Topics for Physicians New to Podcasting

September 4, 2014
healthcare marketing
BusinessDiagnosticseHealth

Beautiful Healthcare Marketing: Angelina’s Decision

May 21, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?