FDA approves treatment for chronic HCV genotypes 1 and 4

FDA has approved a new combination drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The drug, elbasvir and grazoprevir (Zepatier—Merck & Co.), was approved with or without ribavirin to treat chronic HCV genotypes 1 and 4 infections in adults. “Today’s approval provides another oral treatment option for patients with genotypes 1 and 4 HCV infections without requiring use of interferon,” said Edward Cox, MD, director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.