BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

NICE backs Merck's Zepatier

September 8, 2016 7:00 AM UTC

The U.K.'s NICE issued draft guidance recommending Zepatier elbasvir/grazoprevir from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to treat HCV genotypes 1a, 1b and 4 in adults. NICE said Zepatier costs L36,500 ($48,556) per patient for a 12-week course of therapy, and noted that Merck will provide the drug at an undisclosed discount.

In July, the European Commission approved the fixed-dose oral combination of the HCV NS3/4A protease complex inhibitor grazoprevir ( MK-5172) and HCV NS5A protein inhibitor elbasvir ( MK-8742). ...