Treatment Using ICN Drug Gets EU Approval

Costa Mesa drug maker ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday that the European Commission of the European Union has approved the marketing of a new combination treatment for the hepatitis C liver disease.

The company said in a press release that its partner in the treatment, Schering-Plough Corp., received authorization to sell its new interferon injection along with ICN’s ribavirin capsules to treat adults who have had relapses or who have had no prior treatments.

Schering-Plough has been selling an earlier version of its interferon with the ICN product to treat hepatitis C in the 15-nation European Union. Schering has exclusive rights to market oral ribavirin for hepatitis C treatment in all major world markets through a licensing agreement with ICN.