Merck Obtains Approval of ZEPATIER™ in Canada for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C for Patients with Genotype 1, 3, or 4 Infection Following Priority Review

Merck (NYSE:MRK) reported that ZEPATIER (elbasvir/grazoprevir) is now available in Canada. It is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotypes 1, 3 or 4 infections in adults.
According to the company press release:

The latest innovations in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment that have become available over the past three years, now including ZEPATIER, provide Canada with an unprecedented opportunity to significantly reduce the burden of HCV. The scientific community believes that control of HCV infection may be possible and is actively working to achieve that goal by 2030. A significant medical need remains: it is estimated that less than one in five patients with chronic HCV infection are currently treated, with thousands of new cases each year.

Chirfi Guindo, President and Managing Director, Merck Canada Inc commented:

We value this accelerated approval of ZEPATIER in Canada which allows us to offer an effective, simple and well tolerated treatment not only for Canadians with the hepatitis C virus with genotype 1 infection, but also for genotype 3 and 4 infected patients for whom options were limited until now. With this new product,  we now have the opportunity to help a broad range of patients overcome hepatitis C using a simple regimen of 1 pill daily, with most patients cured with an 8 to 12-week therapy.

Click here to view the full press release.