Telavic telaprevir regulatory update

Mitsubishi Tanabe said Japan approved a regulatory application to expand the label of Telavic telaprevir to include treatment of chronic HCV genotype 2 infection. Mitsubishi Tanabe markets the small molecule HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor in the country to treat chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. Vertex markets telaprevir as Incivek in the U.S. in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin to treat HCV genotype 1 infection, and Johnson & Johnson markets the drug for the indication as Incivo in the EU. In August, Vertex said it would discontinue sales of Incivek in the U.S. Oct. 16 in light of available alternative treatments and diminishing market demand (see BioCentury, Aug. 18). ...