Merck Announces New Data From HIV/HCV Co-infected Patients In C-WORTHY Study

(RTTNews) - Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) said Wednesday that new data from HIV/HCV co-infected patients in the ongoing C-WORTHY Study showed that the administration of MK-5172/MK-8742 in those co-infected patients for 12 weeks resulted in robust HCV suppression and a safety profile consistent with that observed for patients infected with HCV Genotype 1 infection alone.

C-WORTHY Study is a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Merck's all-oral, once-daily regimen combining MK-5172, an investigational hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and MK-8742, an investigational HCV NS5A replication complex inhibitor.

At 12 weeks, 100% of co-infected patients who received MK-5172/MK-8742 and ribavirin, and 90% of co-infected patients who received MK-5172/MK-8742 alone had HCV RNA levels of less than 25 IU/mL, versus 100% in patients with HCV alone treated with MK-5172/8742.

"We are encouraged by the potential of MK-5172/MK-8742 for the treatment of people living with HIV/HCV co-infection, where there remains a need for additional therapeutic options," said Dr. Eliav Barr, vice president, Infectious Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories.

In October 2013, Merck announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to MK-5172/MK-8742 for treatment of chronic HCV infection.