Merck recruits Genentech in Victrelis promotion

Genentech Inc., a unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY), agreed to promote newly approved HCV drug Victrelis boceprevir from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) in the U.S. as part of a triple combination therapy regimen that includes Roche's Pegasys pegylated interferon alfa-2a and Copegus ribavirin. Genentech said both companies will make human and financial contributions to the non-exclusive partnership, but financial details were not disclosed.

The companies also plan to explore new combinations of investigational and marketed drugs as potential treatments for HCV. FDA approved Victrelis on Friday (see BioCentury Extra, May 13). ...