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From Inflection To Insight: Vertex And Merck’s Dueling HCV Drugs

 
• By David Wild

Welcome to Inflection to Insight, a new series taking a closer look at notable chapters in biopharma history, gleaning learnings to inform current business strategy. This inaugural instalment looks at the rapid rise and fall of two competing drugs for hepatitis C virus, Vertex’s Incivek and Merck & Co’s Victrelis.

The Ongoing 'From Inflection To Insight' Series Will Reveal Lessons From Past Chapters In Biopharma • Source: Shutterstock

Key Takeaways:

  • Vertex’s Incivek was the fastest drug from launch to $1bn, while Merck’s competing Victrelis generated a fraction of the revenue

The pharmaceutical industry is no stranger to fierce competition, but the battle between Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated’s Incivek (telaprevir) and Merck & Co., Inc.’s Victrelis (boceprevir) stands out as a particularly captivating David versus Goliath story. Incivek was Vertex’s first drug to market and has gone down in the annals of history as the fastest to reach $1bn, doing so in less than a year of launching. Meanwhile, Victrelis was marketed by one of the most established big pharma companies but brought in a tenth of that amount during the same time.

Victrelis was launched 13 May 2011 and Incivek was green-lighted 10 days later. Both drugs were indicated for hepatitis C...

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