Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, LLC acquired hepatitis C drug Infergen from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International for $91 million.

Infergen or consensus interferon is a bio-optimised, selective and highly potent type 1 interferon alpha originally developed by Amgen and launched in the United States in 1997. It is currently indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C viral infections with compensated liver disease and is dosed three times per week.

"Adding Infergen to our growing portfolio is very exciting," said Donald J. Kerrish, RPh, president and chief executive officer, Three Rivers. "This purchase is only a beginning for Three Rivers' continuous strategy to increase its product offerings through product acquisition and internal product development of pharmaceutical therapies."

Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals is a privately held company headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and focuses on specialized therapies including hepatitis C therapies. Three Rivers is the first drug company to focus on the needs of the emerging specialty market. With its unique experience and understanding of the complex challenges of treating chronic, difficult diseases, Three Rivers is a valuable partner in the healthcare community.