MSD reported that final results from a Phase III study of 'Victrelis'™ (boceprevir), its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor, added to peginterferon alfa-2a ('Pegasys'®) marketed by Roche Products Limited, and ribavirin therapy (PR) were presented for the first time today as part of a late-breaker poster session at The International Liver Congress™ / 46th European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) annual meeting.

Over the 48 week treatment period, nearly two thirds (64 percent (86/134)) of treatment-failed patients who were receiving boceprevir in addition to PR for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, achieved cure rates or sustained virologic response (SVR) compared to 21 percent (14/67) who achieved SVR on standard care alone,(p