FDA Approves Boceprevir for HCV

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved boceprevir (Victrelis, Merck) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, making it the first new drug for HCV in 20 years.
Boceprevir is approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in patients aged 18 years of age and older with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis, who are previously untreated or who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy.
Boceprevir interferes with the ability of the HCV to replicate by inhibiting a key viral enzyme (NS3/4A serine protease).
The most commonly reported adverse reactions (>35%) were fatigue, anemia, nausea, headache, and dysgeusia. The most common reason for dose reduction in the trials was anemia.
source:medscape