Vertex Reports Positive HCV Data, 65% Overall Viral Cure.

Staff Writer

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported positive data from its final Phase III trial of telaprevir, with a 65 percent overall viral cure for the groups treated with the telaprevir-based regimen, including those viewed as hardest to treat.

The 65 percent overall cure rate with telaprevir compares to 17 percent in the group that received standard therapy, pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

It was the third positive pivotal trial for the hepatitis C virus drug candidate, paving the way for what analysts see as a smooth road ahead toward approval and launch of telaprevir.

The data showed viral cure rates across three different groups of HCV patients, those who have had a partial response on standard therapy (60 percent), those who relapsed (90 percent) and null responders who had almost no …