Welcome to “A to Z: Drugs in Highlight:
This series is designed to delve into the intricate realm of pharmaceutical drugs. As the world of pharmaceuticals continues to evolve with new discoveries and emerging challenges, we aim to shed light on the diverse array of medications available today, ranging from blockbuster medications to those that may not be as familiar. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a student, or simply someone with a curious mind, “A to Z: Drugs in Highlight” promises to be an enlightening and engaging series.
M is for MAVIRET®
MAVIRET® (from AbbVie), also sold under the brand name MAVYRET®, uses a combination of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection.
How it works:
Glecaprevir is a potent inhibitor of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease enzyme. By targeting and inhibiting this enzyme, glecaprevir prevents cleavage of the HCV polyprotein into mature viral proteins necessary for replication.
Pibrentasvir inhibits the HCV NS5A protein, a critical protein in the virus’s replication and assembly.
Together, the combination of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir effectively halt the replication of HCV, preventing the virus from multiplying and infecting new cells.
Market impact:
MAVIRET® is authorised for use in several regions around the world. It was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2017 and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2017.
MAVIRET® has had a significant global impact in the treatment of Hepatitis C. Since its approval for use, MAVIRET® has been used to treat hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. It reportedly generated USD 1.31 billion in revenue for AbbVie in 2024.
Patent protection:
There are patent rights protecting various aspects of the MAVIRET® technology.
EP2618831B1 and US8648037B2 protect glecaprevir. EP2618831B1 relates to a compound of Formula VII:
Each of B, R, R’, R1’, R2’, R3, R3’ and R4’ are broadly defined. Glecaprevir is specifically protected in claim 23. US8648037B2 has a similar claim scope to EP2618831B1.
EP269234B1 and US8937150B2 protect pibrentasvir. EP269234B1 relates to methyl {(2S,3R)-1-[(2S)-2-{5-[(2R,5R)-1-{3,5-difluoro-4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]phenyl}-5-(6-fluoro-2-{(2S)-1-[N-(methoxycarbonyl)-O-methyl-L-threonyl]pyrrolidin-2-yl}-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]-6-fluoro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl}pyrrolidin-1-yl]-3-methoxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl}carbamate (the formal name for pibrentasvir), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the pibrentasvir, and the use of pibrentasvir for treating a patient effected with HCV.
US8937150B2 provides a broader scope of protection. US8937150B2 relates to compounds having Formula IB, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
wherein RD’, T, R5, R2, Rc’, A, L1, X, L2, L3, D, B, R9, RC’, R12 and T are broadly defined.
Patent support from Secerna
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