Pharmaceutical Industry discussion, review, analysis, news and information.

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TYO:4519)’s antiviral agent ribavirin (trade name: Copegus® tablet 200 mg) has recently been approved for combination therapy with the chronic hepatitis C treatment drug Pegasys® (peginterferon alfa-2a, genetic recombinant) (trade names: Pegasys® S.C. Injection 90 mcg and Pegasys® S.C. Injection 180 mcg).

Pegasys® is first pegylated interferon in Japan that enables chronic hepatitis C treatment by weekly administration and it has been reimbursed by health insurance since December 2003. It is currently used as a monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Copegus® (pdf file) is an antiviral agent developed by F. Hoffmann-La Roche or ROCHE (OTC: RHHBY, VTX: ROG) [Head Office: Basel, Switzerland].

Find more details from the press release.