Ascletis adds HBV therapy to portfolio through Roche partnership

With one marketed HCV therapy in China and another under review, Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKSE:1672) extended its commercial viral hepatitis footprint in the country on Nov. 20 with exclusive rights to marketed HBV drug Pegasys peginterferon α-2a (IFN α-2a) from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY).

Ascletis already markets HCV drug Ganovo danoprevir in China under a 2013 deal with Roche. The product helped springboard Ascletis into the HCV space, and the company went on to add ravidasvir from Presidio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (San Francisco, Calif.) in 2014. Ascletis launched Ganovo in China in June. China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) accepted for review in August an NDA for ravidasvir to treat HCV infection...