Roche’s Pegasys receives EU approval

Roche has said its Pegasys drug has received approval by the European commission.

The company adds the product is the first and only pegylated interferon to be endorsed for therapy of up to 72 weeks in treatment-experienced patients.

Used on hepatitis C patients, who have failed to be successfully treated with an initial course of interferon alpha either alone or in combination with ribavirin, the drug’s approval is set to “establish a new standard of care”, Roche continued.

Chief executive of the company’s pharmaceuticals division William Burns said: “This new indication for Pegasys plus Copegus is another demonstration of Roche’s commitment to extend the promise of a cure to as many chronic hepatitis C patients as possible.”

He added Roche’s approach is to “optimise and individualise treatment to increase patients’ chance of success”.

Last month, Roche and Memory Pharmaceuticals announced they signed a merger agreement – which is set to see Roche acquiring all outstanding shares in an all-cash transaction, priced at $50 million (32.7 million pounds).

Based in Basel, Switzerland, Roche’s sales in the pharmaceutical division reached 36.8 billion Swiss francs in 2007 – while its diagnostics division posted sales of 9.3 billion francs.

The company currently employs approximately 80,000 people.