It has been reported that the viral cure rate by adding Merck's boceprevir to standard hepatitis C therapy increases up to 75 per cent. Vertex's telaprevir also yields a similar result.

The hepatitis C virus, HCV, is directly attacked by boceprevir and telaprevir. The standard treatment combines alpha interferon with ribavirin, a drug with general antiviral effects.

But reports also state that hard-to-tolerate side effects are there of standard combination. Side effects burden is caused by both boceprevir and telaprevir. It was also stated by very preliminary evidence it might be easier to take boceprevir.

Nevertheless, for people with hepatitis C infection, the boceprevir findings are very good news.

A ‘sustained viral response’, SVR, or ‘viral cure’ patients don't usually see the virus come back to harmful levels.

In patients with genotype 1 HCV infection, the boceprevir studies tested the drug. In the US the most common HCV strain is Genotype 1 and to treatment is generally considered the most resistant.

It could not be clearly figured out by the phase III data released by Merck that the strategy was a success or not. This fall during a meeting of liver disease specialists, more detailed results from these late-stage trials will be announced.