Victrelis boceprevir regulatory update

FDA and EMA notified healthcare professionals and will update the U.S. and EU labels of Merck's HCV drug Victrelis boceprevir to include a warning of drug interactions with certain ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitor drugs that may reduce the effectiveness of the drugs when used in combination. The agency said a drug interaction study showed that patients receiving Victrelis with Norvir ritonavir in combination with Reyataz atazanavir or Prezista darunavir, or Victrelis with Kaletra lopinavir/ritonavir, had reduced blood levels of the HIV drugs and Victrelis. Victrelis is a small molecule HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor. ...