CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The European Commission today approved SEBIVO® (telbivudine), a new once-a-day oral treatment for adult patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and evidence of viral replication and active liver disease. The European Commission decision applies to all 27 countries in the European Union as well as Iceland and Norway. Launches are expected to start in the second quarter of 2007 beginning with the United Kingdom and Germany. The approval of SEBIVO in Europe triggers a milestone payment from Novartis Pharma AG to Idenix. In addition to the European Union, SEBIVO is currently approved in more than 15 major markets, including the United States [where it is marketed as TYZEKA® (telbivudine)], Canada, Switzerland and China.
