Victrelis

Product
Victrelis

Approval Date
May 13, 2011

Release Date
May 2011

Company
Merck/Roche

Class
Protease inhibitor

Indication
For the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adults with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis, who are previously untreated or who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy

Active Ingredient
Boceprevir

Agency Roster
CAHG (global AOR)

Marketing Strategy/Execution
Merck has teamed up with Roche to help promote Victrelis, its first-in-class hepatitis C therapy. The two firms make competing pegylated interferons and ribavirin brands, and Victrelis is indicated for prescription in combination with those two drug types. Reps were scheduled to begin detailing efforts the week following approval, with a go-to-market price of $1,100 per week wholesale, or $26,400-$48,400 annually. Rival drug Incivek (telaprevir), approved a few days after Victrelis, is being promoted by a smaller sales staff from Vertex in the US. It’s pricier—$49,200 for a 12-week supply—but has been shown to clear the virus in a greater percentage of patients than Victrelis. Merck and Roche hope to use their pre-existing position in the space and marketing muscle for a strong launch, though it won’t be easy to offset Incivek’s clinical differences. While it won’t win the market share war, the price difference could help Merck/Roche win more revenue, according to a research note from Wolters Kluwer inThought. The analysts model peak worldwide sales of Incivek and Victrelis in 2015 of $2.7 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively. Other Victrelis marketing tactics include support for public awareness and disease education.

Also in the Pipeline (courtesy of Adis R&D Insight)
Drug: DEB-025
Manufacturer:Novartis
Indication: Hepatitis C
Active ingredient: Alisporivir
Phase: III

Drug: BI 201335 NA
Manufacturer:Boehringer Ingelheim
Indication: Hepatitis C
Active ingredient: BI 201335
Phase: III (Fast Track)

Drug: TMC-435350
Manufacturer:Tibotec BVBA
Indication: Hepatitis C
Active ingredient: Simeprevir
Phase: III

Drug: LY 570310
Manufacturer:Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Indication: Hepatitis C
Active ingredient: Telaprevir
Phase: Preregistration

Source: Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions

Recent MM&M Coverage
Vertex ready to put 200 in field for hep. C drug launch
Vertex versus Goliaths in HCV drug duel
Vertex to put 200 in field for launch
Roche to co-promote Merck’s Victrelis in US
Pharma Report: Cliff Notes

Pharmacology
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Clinical Trials
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Adverse Reactions
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Adults
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Children
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Precautions
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Interactions
Detailed clinical information withheld for review by MPR’s clinical advisory board and will be added as soon as it becomes available.