Vertex Reports Success In Second Major Hepatitis Drug Study

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) reported the success of the second of three key late-stage studies of hepatitis-C treatment, telaprevir, essentially curing 72% of patients using the drug.

The study, a supplement to the larger studies intended to support teleprevir's approval, showed there was no benefit to extending treatment to 48 weeks from 24 weeks in the majority of patients. The results are notable because they improve the sustained viral response, or SVR, which is essentially a cure for the liver disease, and shorten the length of therapy for most patients.

Vertex shares recently slid 2.3% to $36.14 ...