Gilead’s Kite unit has signed a deal with the biotech HiFiBiO (High Fidelity Biology) to discover T-cell receptors that could lead to cell therapies capable of targeting solid tumours.
Gilead is to launch cheaper generic versions of its hepatitis C drugs in the US, responding to calls for lower drug prices because of spiralling healthcare costs.
Cheap copies of Gilead’s HIV drug Truvada, which can also be used to reduce the risk of people becoming infected, could be available in the UK following a court ruling.
NICE has said Novartis’ CAR-T therapy Kymriah cannot be funded by the NHS in adults with an aggressive form of lymphoma, calling for further discussions to get the drug on to the market.
Shares in the Belgian biotech Galapagos have surged after a late stage trial of filgotinib, a rheumatoid arthritis drug it is developing with Gilead, met all its endpoints.
Novartis and Gilead’s CAR-T therapies have been approved in Europe – and the UK’s NICE immediately slapped down the latter, saying it is too expensive for regular NHS use in England and Wal