merck's hcv drug bring's in only $21 million

Here's the next phase of the bigPharma struggle to secure the next HCV blockbuster drug.

(http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/merck-dont-declare-hep-c-victor-yet/2011-08-01)
"Merck released its first sales numbers for hepatitis C newbie Victrelis, confirming that rival Vertex Pharmaceuticals is in the lead. Merck's drug brought in $21 million for the period, with a week's head start, while Vertex's Incivek accounted for $75 million in sales. That's a three-to-one ratio, a bit better for Incivek than the 70/30 split analysts had predicted up front".

"The Merck drug has come up against the obstacles most had expected, chiefly dosing issues. "Merck acknowledged that Victrelis's complicated dosing has been an issue for physicians," Wells Fargo's Brian Abrahams told clients. "The better profile and simpler dosing of Incivek provide important practical advantages for Vertex."

bluebush