Merck's hepatitis C treatment receives prestigious Innovative Product
Award
KIRKLAND, QC, Nov. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Merck is proud to announce that
VICTRELIS (boceprevir), a first-in-class oral hepatitis C virus (HCV)
protease inhibitor for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC)
genotype 1 infection, received the Prix Galien Canada 2012 - Innovative
Product Award. The most prestigious award in the field of Canadian
pharmaceutical research and innovation,1 this annual honour is given to the product that has made the most
significant overall contribution to patient care in Canada in terms of
efficacy, safety, benefits and innovation.
"Given Merck's ongoing commitment to research to improve outcomes for
patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C infection, it is with great
pride that we accept this Prix Galien for boceprevir," said Gregg
Szabo, Vice President, with Merck Canada. "This award is further
recognition that boceprevir marks a significant step forward in
hepatitis C treatment. More Canadians can now be cured of their
hepatitis C infection, so that fewer may struggle with the consequences
of end-stage liver disease, liver transplants and liver cancer."
Boceprevir is the first direct-acting antiviral medication approved in
Canada for the treatment of CHC genotype 1 infection, in combination
with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin (peg/riba) in adult patients (18
years and older) with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis,
who are previously untreated or who have failed previous therapy.2 Prior to its approval in late July 2011, available therapies had been
effective for only a minority of CHC genotype 1 patients.3,4
About the Prix Galien
The Prix Galien Canada is a branch of Innovation Life Canada and is
composed of two awards: the Prix Galien Research Award recognizing the
outstanding contribution of a researcher or a research team to Canadian
biopharmaceutical research; and the Prix Galien for Innovative Product
Award for a pharmaceutical product whose efficacy, safety and
innovation contribute to enhancing the quality of life of Canadians.
For more information, visit: www.prix-galien-canada.com.
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be
well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.
Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and
animal products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140
countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate
our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching
policies, programs and partnerships. For more information about our
operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include,
but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger
between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and
operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions and other statements that are not
historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs
and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant
risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth
in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to
differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the
possibility that all of the expected synergies from the merger of Merck
and Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized
within the expected time period; the impact of pharmaceutical industry
regulation and health care legislation in the United States and
internationally; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market
conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and
other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation and/or regulatory actions.
Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can
be found in Merck's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).
TM Trademark of Schering Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Used under license.
References
_____________________
1 Prix Galien Canada. http://eng.prix-galien-canada.com/prix_galien_canada.html. Accessed November 5, 2012.
2 VICTRELISTM, Product Monograph, July 27, 2011, p. 3.
3 Poordad, F., et al., for the SPRINT-2 Investigators. Boceprevir for
Untreated Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection. N Engl J Med 2011;
364:1195-1206, page 1195.
4 Bacon, B.R., et al., for the HCV RESPOND-2 Investigators. Boceprevir for Previously Treated
Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1207-1217, p.
1207.
SOURCE MERCK
Image with caption: "Dr. Jacques Gagné, President of the Prix Galien jury, presents the 2012 Prix Galien for Victrelis to Gregg Szabo, Vice President of Merck Canada (left) at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Wednesday evening, November 14, 2012. The Canadian Press Images PHOTO/Merck Canada (CNW Group/MERCK)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121115_C8277_PHOTO_EN_20720.jpg