With Incivek Deflated, Vertex’s HCV Roller Coaster Ride Hinges On Phase II Candidate VX-135

Along with steep job cuts in the commercial force behind hepatitis C drug Incivek, Vertex is nearing a go/no-go decision on development of Phase II nucleoside polymerase inhibitor VX-135 for HCV. Incivek earned nearly $1 billion in its first 10 months of sales, but fell to $86 million in the third quarter of 2013.

The story may be unique in the history of prescription drug development. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s protease inhibitor Incivek (telaprevir), only two years ago considered the top drug for treating chronic hepatitis C infection, is sputtering.

The drug, approved in March 2011, posted sales of nearly $1 billion in its first year on the market, and...

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