Vertex Pharmaceuticals Strengthens HCV Drug Development Portfolio, Adds Novel Polymerase Inhibitors to Shape New Combinations with Telaprevir

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX), which is developing the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor telaprevir, will add two polymerase inhibitors to its HCV drug development portfolio through a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held ViroChem Pharma Inc. in a stock and cash transaction. With the addition of these compounds, Vertex will advance its strategy to pursue novel combinations of Specifically Targeted Antiviral Therapies for hepatitis C (STAT-Cs) for the treatment of HCV infection. Following completion of the transaction, Vertex will own worldwide rights to ViroChem’s HCV drug development portfolio, including VCH-222 and VCH-759, which have demonstrated...

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