MK-5172 MK-8742 Phase 2 98% SVR

[JimmyMose]

Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:17am EDT (Reuters) - A two-drug combination being tested by Merck & Co to treat hepatitis C cured 98 percent of previously untreated patients without cirrhosis in a midstage clinical trial, providing the latest evidence that the U.S. drugmaker will be highly competitive in the fast evolving field.

Results of the study called C-Worthy were presented on Thursday at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in London. Researchers are due on Friday to present results of how the Merck pills fared in more difficult to treat patients, such as those who failed to be helped by prior treatments and those with more advanced liver disease.

Merck is a bit behind the other three companies in its development timeline, but could prove to be the one that gives Gilead a run for its money as it aims to also produce a one pill, once a day regimen. The AbbVie and Bristol-Myers programs involve more pills and more drugs, but equally impressive cure rates so far in clinical testing.

"Merck has begun a Phase III trial in (previously untreated patients) using one pill, once per day. This should increase everyone's confidence that Merck really has a regimen competitive with Gilead's," ISI Group analyst Mark Schoenebaum said in a research note.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/10/us-hepatitis-merck-idUSBREA390B120140410

[JimmyMose]

Link problem with the fortmilltimes.com one in my prior comment

Replaced with another media link
Merck’s Investigational Chronic Hepatitis C Combination Therapy MK-5172/MK-8742 Demonstrates Antiviral Activity in Hard-to-Cure Patients with HCV Genotype 1 Infection
Clinical Findings Support Initiation of C-EDGE Phase 3 Program

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140410006486/en/Merck%E2%80%99s-Investigational-Chronic-Hepatitis-Combination-Therapy-MK-5172MK-8742#.U0fYw_ldV8E

[JimmyMose]

Updated results of how the Merck pills fared in more difficult to treat patients, such as those who failed to be helped by prior treatments and those with more advanced liver disease.

April 11, 2014
Merck’s Investigational Chronic Hepatitis C Combination Therapy MK-5172/MK-8742 Demonstrates Antiviral Activity in Hard-to-Cure Patients with HCV Genotype 1 Infection
Clinical Findings Support Initiation of C-EDGE Phase 3 Program

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2014/04/11/3410625/mercks-investigational-chronic.html

HCV GT1 infected, treatment-naïve cirrhotic patients, MK-5172/MK-8742 treated - 97 percent (28/29 and 29/30) for 12 and 18 weeks, and MK-5172/MK-8742 plus RBV - 90 percent (28/31) and 97 percent (30/31) for 12 and 18 weeks, respectively.
HCV GT1 infected prior-null responder patients (with or without cirrhosis), MK-5172/MK-8742 treated - 91 percent (30/33) and 97 percent (29/30) for 12 and 18 weeks, respectively, and MK-5172/MK-8742 plus RBV treated 94 percent (30/32) and 100 percent (32/32) for the 12 and 18 weeks, respectively.
Treatment-naïve, non-cirrhotic patients with HCV/HIV co-infection, MK-5172/MK-8742 treated for 12 weeks - 90 percent (26/29) and MK-5172/MK-8742 plus RBV for 12 weeks 97 percent (28/29).
more info with charts at link above.

______________________________________________________
5 recently announced studies found for: MK-5172 MK-8742 | Phase 3
4 not yet recruiting and 1 recruiting

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=MK-5172+MK-
8742&recr=&rslt=&type=&cond=&intr=&titles=&outc=&spons=&lead=&id=&state1=&cntry1=&state2=&cntry2=&state3=&cntry3=&locn=&gndr=&phase=2&rcv_s=&rcv_e=&lup_s=&lup_e=

Or do advance search - terms MK-5172 MK-8742 and check  Phase 3

[hrsepwrguy]

And to think when I treated (not that long ago 2011) I took over 3000 pills in 48 wks, 1 pill a day for 12 weeks is pretty awesome