Vertex To Acquire ViroChem Pharma

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has entered a definitive agreement to acquire ViroChem Pharma in a stock and cash transaction worth $376 million. The acquisition adds two polymerase inhibitors to Vertex’s hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug development portfolio, which includes the HCV protease inhibitor telaprevir.

With the addition of these compounds, Vertex will pursue new combinations of Specifically Targeted Antiviral Therapies for hepatitis C (STAT-Cs) for the treatment of HCV infection. ViroChem’s HCV portfolio includes VCH-222 and VCH-759, which have demonstrated substantial reductions in plasma HCV RNA when dosed as single agents and have been well tolerated in clinical studies to date. Vertex expects to begin clinical evaluation of combination regimens of its HCV protease inhibitor telaprevir, currently in Phase III development, in the second half of this year.

“This acquisition significantly strengthens our pipeline in hepatitis C by bringing together Vertex’s telaprevir, our HCV protease inhibitor in registration studies, with the HCV non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors being developed by ViroChem,” said Joshua Boger, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Vertex. “Through this acquisition, we’re well positioned as a leader in the development of HCV therapies. Our goal is to further advance HCV care for patients through the creation of novel and highly potent STAT-C combination regimens.”