Replies to post #182286 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Agreed—I figured MRK would pull back to some degree on the 2-DAA (PI+ NS5A) HCV program after acquiring IDIX. Instead, they have undertaken a fairly robust phase-3 program for the 2-DAA regimen that will incur a material cost even for a company as large as MRK.

Moreover, there must be something concerning in the tox profile of the 2-DAA combo or MRK wouldn’t be singling out patients with the blood disorders enumerated in the ‘NCT02252016’ trial (h/t jq1234).

[DewDiligence]

MRK is testing MK-5172/MK-8742 in several specialized patient groups…

• GT1 with chronic kidney disease:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02092350

• GT1/4/6 with hepatic insufficiency:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02115321

• GT1/4/6 with HIV co-infection:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02105662

• GT1/4/6 with concurrent opiate-rehab therapy:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02105688

• GT1/4/6 with sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, or hemophilia/von Willebrand disease (reposted from #msg-106755289):
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02252016


Don’t know what all this means, but it can’t be an encouraging sign for MRK’s 2-DAA regimen consisting of MK-5172 + MK-8742.