Gilead cystic fibrosis drug shows efficacy in phase III study

Gilead Sciences has published data from a phase III clinical study of its cystic fibrosis drug Cayston, demonstrating the treatment's efficacy and safety profile.

A trial among 268 patients over a 28-day period was conducted by Gilead in order to evaluate the potential benefits of Cayston – when administered via the Altera Nebulizer System – compared to an alternative inhalation-based therapy.

It was found that Gilead's drug demonstrated superiority in terms of effecting positive actual change in forced expiratory volume in one second, meaning the treatment met its co-primary endpoint target in the trial.

The data will prove key for Gilead in attaining European regulatory approval of the drug, as conditional authorisation was issued last year that is contingent on the results of this study.

Dr Christopher Oermann, associate professor of paediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said: "Cayston is an important new therapy for the treatment of pseudomonal airway infection in people living with cystic fibrosis."

Last month, the company reported positive progress in its ongoing clinical trial programme for Quad, a new fixed-dose therapy regimen for HIV sufferers.