Positive outcome in phase 2 for Gilead Science’s HIV drug

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

Leading biopharmaceutical company, Gilead Sciences, has announced that its phase 2 clinical trials evaluating tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF, formerly referred to as GS-7340) met its primary objective. TAF is an investigational novel prodrug of tenofovir, for the treatment of the HIV-1 infection.

The clinical trials for TAF compared a once-daily single tablet regimen of TAF combined with other drugs against Stribild (also by Gilead Sciences). The TAF-based regimen achieved a similar virologic response to Stribild based on the proportion of patients with HIV RNA levels (viral load) of less than 50 copies / mL at 24 weeks of therapy (87 percent versus 90 percent, respectively).

This positive outcome allows Gilead Sciences to continue pushing forward with its studies.

“These interim findings are encouraging and warrant advancing this TAF-containing single tablet regimen into Phase 3 development.”

Norbert Bischofberger, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, Gilead Sciences.

Gilead Sciences’ strategy is to simplify HIV therapy through the development of a number of single-pill combination treatments. The company is also facing patent expiries from some of its individual HIV drugs, so is developing new drugs to replace them.

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