Merck Expands Hep C Drug Market Reach With Idenix Acquisition
- ByInternational Business Times
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Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, is engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases in the United States and France. Its primary research and development focus is on the treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The company’s HCV discovery program focuses on nucleoside/nucleotide polymerase inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors. It is also developing non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for the treatment of human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus type-1 and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); and products and drug candidates for the treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV). The company has a collaboration agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis Pharma AG; ViiV Healthcare Company; and GlaxoSmithKline. Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was formerly known as Novirio Pharmaceuticals Inc. and changed its name to Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in May 2002. Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As of August 4, 2014, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.