US pharmaceutical giant Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD, NYSE: MRK) announced the commercial launch of its non-nucleoside cytomegalovirus (CMV) inhibitor Prevymis (letermovir) in China. The drug received market approval in December 2021 for the prevention of CMV infection and CMV disease in adult recipients with CMV seropositive [R+] undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Drug Details
Letermovir, a novel non-nucleoside 3,4-dihydroquinazoline inhibitor, exerts its antiviral effect by inhibiting the activity of the CMV terminal enzyme complex, thereby preventing the processing and packaging of viral DNA. Compared with DNA polymerase inhibitors, letermovir has higher selectivity and improved action intensity on CMV. The drug was first approved in the US in November 2017 for the prevention of CMV infection and related diseases in adult patients who are CMV seropositive after allogeneic HSCT. Its tablets and injection dosage forms were approved in China in December 2021 and May 2022, respectively.-Fineline Info & Tech
