VICTRELIS- boceprevir capsule
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE
VICTRELIS� (boceprevir) is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis, who are previously untreated or who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy, including prior null responders, partial responders, and relapsers [see Clinical Studies (14)].
The following points should be considered when initiating VICTRELIS for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection:
VICTRELIS must not be used as monotherapy and should only be used in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin.
The efficacy of VICTRELIS has not been studied in patients who have previously failed therapy with a treatment regimen that includes VICTRELIS or other HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors.
Poorly interferon responsive patients who were treated with VICTRELIS in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin have a lower likelihood of achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), and a higher rate of detection of resistance-associated substitutions upon treatment failure, compared to patients with a greater response to peginterferon alfa and ribavirin [see Microbiology (12.4) and Clinical Studies (14)].
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
VICTRELIS must be administered in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin. The dose of VICTRELIS is 800 mg (four 200-mg capsules) three times daily (every 7 to 9 hours) with food [a meal or light snack] (see Table 1). Refer to the prescribing information for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for instructions on dosing.
The following dosing recommendations differ for some subgroups from the dosing studied in the Phase 3 trials [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Response-Guided Therapy (RGT) is recommended for most individuals, but longer dosing is recommended in targeted subgroups (e.g., patients with cirrhosis).
.1 VICTRELIS/Peginterferon alfa/Ribavirin Combination Therapy: Patients Without Cirrhosis Who Are Previously Untreated or Who Previously Failed Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy
Initiate therapy with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for 4 weeks (Treatment Weeks 1�4).
Add VICTRELIS 800 mg (four 200-mg capsules) orally three times daily (every 7 to 9 hours) to peginterferon alfa and ribavirin regimen after 4 weeks of treatment. Based on the patient's HCV-RNA levels at Treatment Week (TW) 8, TW12 and TW24, use the following guidelines to determine duration of treatment
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
VICTRELIS 200 mg Capsules, red-colored cap with the Merck logo printed in yellow ink, and a yellow-colored body with "314″ printed in red ink.
DESCRIPTION
VICTRELIS (boceprevir) is an inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 3 (NS3) serine protease.
Boceprevir has the following chemical name: (1R,5S)-N-[3-Amino-1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-2,3-dioxopropyl]-3-[2(S)-[[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl]-6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2(S)-carboxamide. The molecular formula is C27 H45 N5 O5 and its molecular weight is 519.7.
Boceprevir is manufactured as an approximately equal mixture of two diastereomers. Boceprevir is a white to off-white amorphous powder. It is freely soluble in methanol, ethanol and isopropanol and slightly soluble in water.
VICTRELIS 200 mg capsules are available as hard gelatin capsules for oral administration. Each capsule contains 200 mg of boceprevir and the following inactive ingredients: sodium lauryl sulfate, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium, pre-gelatinized starch, and magnesium stearate. The red capsule cap consists of gelatin, titanium dioxide, D&C Yellow #10, FD&C Blue #1, and FD&C Red #40. The yellow capsule body contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, D&C Yellow #10, FD&C Red #40, and FD&C Yellow #6. The capsule is printed with red and yellow ink. The red ink contains shellac and red iron oxide, while the yellow ink consists of shellac, titanium dioxide, povidone and D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake.
12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
12.1 Mechanism of Action
VICTRELIS is a direct acting antiviral drug against the hepatitis C virus
Microbiology
Mechanism of Action
Boceprevir is an inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A protease that is necessary for the proteolytic cleavage of the HCV encoded polyprotein into mature forms of the NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B proteins. Boceprevir covalently, yet reversibly, binds to the NS3 protease active site serine (S139) through an (alpha)-ketoamide functional group to inhibit viral replication in HCV-infected host cells. In a biochemical assay, boceprevir inhibited the activity of recombinant HCV genotype 1a and 1b NS3/4A protease enzymes, with Ki values of 14 nM for each subtype.
