Merck's potential HCV drug gets FDA designation allowing for expedited development and review

Merck & Co. said Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration granted the pharmaceutical company's developing hepatitis C treatment two special designations.

The FDA granted Merck's grazoprevir/elbasvir combination "breakthrough therapy designation" for two different types of the condition, which affects the liver. The regulatory move allows for the expedited development and review of a drug candidate.

The Kenilworth, New Jersey-based company plans to present various study data on the drug candidate at the 2015 meeting of The International Liver Congress in Vienna, Austria taking place the week of April 22.