Merck’s antiviral drug meets main goal in late-stage trial
Merck & Co Inc said its experimental drug to prevent cytomegalovirus infection in high-risk bone marrow transplant patients met its primary goal in a late-stage trial.
The trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the drug, letermovir, for prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in adult recipients of a stem cell transplant.
The drug was administered once daily, either in oral tablet or IV formulation, to patients and continued for about 100 days after the transplant.
Cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpes virus family and remains a significant cause of viral infections in transplant recipients.
(Reporting by Shailesh Kuber; Editing by Martina D’Couto)
Source: Reuters Health
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-co-trial-idUSKCN12J1CB