Merck Sharpe and Dohme reports data for Isentress combination therapy

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has published positive new clinical trial data for a new combination therapy for HIV involving Isentress.

The company has conducted a phase III study called STARTMRK, which assessed a combination of the integrase inhibitor Isentress plus enofovir/emtricitabine compared to an alternative treatment option.

It was found that the Isentress-based option offered superior efficacy compared to the control therapy at 192 weeks of treatment, in terms of viral load control and immunological effect.

The data also showed that Merck's new therapy was associated with a lower rate of drug-related clinical adverse events.

Dr Jurgen Rockstroh, of the University of Bonn, Bonn-Venusberg, said: "These results offer further insight into the virologic and immunologic response seen with Isentress in combination therapy."

Earlier this month, the company was granted an approval from the Scottish Medicines Consortium for the use of its clinically proven hepatitis C therapy Victrelis among NHS Scotland patients.