The head of infectious diseases at Merck & Co (MRK.N) said the company’s future all-oral treatments for hepatitis C and its experimental drug for infections with clostridium difficile bacteria could transform treatment and reap big sales. Merck and biotechnology company Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX.O) earlier this year introduced rival new oral treatments for hepatitis C that work by blocking the protein protease. But they both must be taken with an injectable interferon that prolongs treatment and causes flu-like side effects.
