Tuesday, October 1, 2013 10:00 am EDT
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced the presentation of data from studies evaluating the company’s investigational oral chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments MK-5172 and MK-8742 at the 64th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Annual Meeting (AASLD). The meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., Nov. 1-5, 2013.
“Merck is committed to developing HCV therapies that have the potential to offer new options for a broad range of patient types,” said Dr. Eliav Barr, vice president, Infectious Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories. “We continue to build upon our strong legacy in HCV and look forward to sharing the latest clinical data for our investigational HCV therapies, MK-5172 and MK-8742.”
MK-5172 is an investigational, once-daily, oral HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor currently in Phase IIB development. MK-8742 is an investigational, once-daily, oral HCV NS5A replication complex inhibitor currently in Phase IIB development. Both candidates are being evaluated in broad clinical programs that include investigations in various HCV segments, multiple HCV genotypes and patients who have previously failed prior therapy.
Selected presentations of clinical data for MK-5172 and MK-8742
- High Efficacy and Safety of the All-Oral Combination Regimen, MK-5172/MK-8742 +/- RBV for 12 Weeks in HCV Genotype 1 Infected Patients: The C-WORTHY Study. Lawitz, E., et al. Oral Presentation #76: Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, 5:30-5:45 p.m.
- Kinetic Analyses of Antiviral Suppression by NS5A Inhibitors Reveal Early and Potent Inhibition of Viral Assembly and Release. McGivern, D.R., et al. Oral Presentation #78: Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, 6:00-6:15 p.m.
- High Efficacy at Lower Doses of MK-5172 25mg and 50mg Daily for 12 weeks in HCV Genotype (G) 1 Treatment-Naïve Non-Cirrhotic Patients. Vierling, J., N et al. Poster #1123. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Efficacy and Safety of an Interferon-Free Regimen of MK-5172 + Ribavirin for 12 Weeks or 24 Weeks in Treatment-Naïve, Non-Cirrhotic Subjects with HCV GT1 Infection: The C-SPIRIT Study. Gane, E.J., et al., Poster #1110. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- MK-8742, a HCV NS5A Inhibitor with a Broad Spectrum of HCV Genotypic Activity, Demonstrates Potent Antiviral Activity in Genotype-1 and -3 HCV-Infected Patients. Yeh, W. W., et al. Poster #479. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, 2:00-7:30 p.m.
The abstracts were published today and can be accessed on the AASLD website. For program information, please visit: http://www.aasld.org/livermeeting/program/Pages/default.aspx
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
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