Merck's MK-7009 sustains hepatitis C viral reduction in phase IIa trial
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Posted by Merck Co Inc on April 28, 2009 at 08:22:01:
Merck's MK-7009 sustains hepatitis C viral reduction in phase IIa trial Merck & Co Inc, 27th April 2009. Merck & Co's macrocyclic inhibitor of NS3/4a, MK-7009, rapidly suppresses hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels, according to data from an ongoing phase IIa trial in treatment-naive patients with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection. A phase IIb trial in previously treated patients has begun. Subjects were randomized to receive MK-7009 at 300 or 600 mg bid, or 600 or 800 mg qd, or placebo, plus peg-IFN and ribavirin for 28 days Results after 28 days showed 69 to 82% of MK-7009-recipients achieved undetectable HCV RNA levels compared with 6% of placebo-recipients. More than 80% of drug-treated patients showed viral suppression below the lower limit of quantification compared with 11% of placebo-treated patients. After termination of treatment, at day 42, HCV RNA was undetectable in 77 to 94% of drug-treated patients compared with 12% of placebo patients. There were no serious adverse events reported and no discontinuations The data were reported at the 44th Annual European Association for the Study of the Liver meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. 
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