The CPMP opinion serves as the basis for a European Commission approval, which is typically issued in approximately four months. ICN Pharmaceuticals, which discovered ribavirin, currently markets the drug as Virazole in a variety of dosage forms for at least one of 10 indications in 44 countries.
Ribavirin is a synthetic nucleoside analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
Chronic hepatitis C is estimated to affect some 10 million people in major world markets. In Europe, chronic hepatitis C is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and the most common reason for liver transplant. ICN manufactures and markets a broad range of prescription and non- prescription pharmaceuticals and biomedical research products in over 90 countries. The company employs some 17,000 people worldwide. ICN has operations in North and Latin America, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Pacific Rim countries.