Merck reports HCV triple-combo results

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) presented results from a Phase II study of a triple combination including grazoprevir ( MK-5172) and elbasvir ( MK-8742; MK-5172A) showing an SVR4 and SVR8 rate of 94.7% among cirrhotic, treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 HCV in the eight-week treatment arm. In two six-week treatment arms, cirrhotic patients reached an SVR 4/8 rate of 80% while non-cirrhotic patients had an SVR 4/8 rate of 86.7%.

The company said the combo, which also included Sovaldi sofosbuvir from Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), showed "sub-optimal efficacy" in the four-week arm. ...