Content about Hepatitis C

FLINT, Mich. — An executive from Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy recently participated in a program on hepatitis C therapy, the company said.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim has created a website designed for patients with hepatitis C and advocates, the company said Friday.

BI announced the launch of HepCRedefined.com, which it describes as an online portal to help improve the lives of those living with the virus through education, information and understanding.

BARCELONA, Spain — Merck is testing two means of treating patients with chronic hepatitis C for anemia, a common side effect of certain treatments for the viral infection, the drug maker said.

Merck announced results of a phase-3 study comparing two strategies for managing anemia and how they affect the curing of hepatitis C in patients taking Victrelis (boceprevir) with Pegintron (peginterferon alfa-2b) and ribavirin.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration's latest message to consumers and healthcare professionals seems like a no-brainer: "Insulin pens are not for sharing."

But the agency said it knew of two undisclosed hospitals that it said had reused the cartridge components of insulin pens in administering insulin to more than 2,000 patients, though the hospitals reportedly changed the pens themselves.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Drug maker Gilead Sciences will acquire Pharmasset for $11 billion, or $137 per share, Gilead said Monday.

Pharmasset, based in Princeton, N.J., is a drug maker that currently has three treatments for hepatitis C undergoing clinical trials, including PSI-7977, which is in late-stage development.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is recognizing medication adherence rates as high as 96% through its hepatitis C therapy management programs across its specialty pharmacy, the pharmacy operator announced Monday.

LAKE MARY, Fla. — Specialty pharmacy provider Axium Healthcare Pharmacy has introduced two recently approved hepatitis C drugs to its HepVisions therapy management program, the company said Thursday.

Axium announced the addition of Merck ’s Victrelis (boceprevir) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Incivek (telaprevir) to the program, through which it provides comprehensive compliance support, patient education, side effect management, clinical interventions and communication with the patient and physician.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for hepatitis C made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the agency said Monday.

The FDA approved Incivek (telaprevir) to treat adults with chronic hepatitis C infection, particularly those who either have not received interferon-based drug therapy or who have not responded to prior therapies. The drug is approved for use with therapies that include ribavirin and peginterferon alfa.

SILVER SPRING, Md.— The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for chronic hepatitis C, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Merck’s Victrelis (boceprevir) for patients with the disease. The drug is designed for patients who still have some liver function and have not previously received treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection or have failed previous treatments. The drug is approved for use in combination with the generic drug ribavirin and pegylated interferons, biotech drugs used for treating the disease.

BALTIMORE — Medication adherence among hepatitis C patients may improve when patients take antidepressants, according to a new analysis by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions presented Monday at the International Conference on Viral Hepatitis.

BOSTON An investigative treatment for hepatitis C got strong results in patients who had failed previous treatments or who were new to treatment, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial program announced this week.