Part of his speech touched on an experimental drug called telaprevir, which Vertex is developing to treat the hepatitis C virus. The virus, which destroys the liver, infects an estimated 170 million worldwide, and some analysts think that when telaprevir wins regulatory approval, it could generate annual sales of more than $2 billion.

In a summary of Boger's speech that Vertex made available, Boger discussed the evolution of telaprevir's research and development program, recent Phase II clinical results, the start of a Phase III clinical trial, and the rationale for the company's decision, 14 years ago, to enter the hepatitis C virus space.

Boger also talked about Vertex's program to develop a cystic fibrosis treatment.

His remarks noted that the science behind Vertex's "novel approach" to cystic fibrosis therapy - using an oral drug to target a genetic defect - struck many people as "crazy" when the company started the program 10 years ago.

Today that program has "yielded promising early clinical results," Boger said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)

http://www.boston.com/ 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title
Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Email
Website
Write the displayed characters
I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment