UK NICE recommend use of Zepatier (elbasvir + grazoprevir) for hepatitis C- Merck Inc

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published draft guidelines supporting Zepatier (elbasvir + grazoprevir), from Merck Inc., as a drug therapy to treat chronic hepatitis in adults with genotypes 1a, 1b or 4. NICE concluded that all incremental cost effective ratios for the therapy were below �20,000 per QALY gained, regardless of genotype, treatment history or cirrhosis status, and could therefore be considered a cost-effective use of NHS resources.

Comment: Zepatier � Merck�s once-daily, fixed-dose combination tablet indicated with or without RBV for the treatment of chronic HCV GT1 or GT4 infection in adults � was approved by the FDA on Jan. 28, 2016, based in part on prior studies from the Phase III program. It was also CHMP recommended in the EU in May 2016.