Gilead to collaborate with GlobeImmune on hepatitis B drug

Gilead is set to work alongside GlobeImmune on a treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

The two companies have signed a worldwide licence and collaboration agreement to develop therapeutic vaccine products for use in conjunction with Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and other oral therapies.

David Apelian, senior vice-president of research and development and chief medical officer at GlobeImmune, described the collaboration as "a significant milestone in GlobeImmune's efforts to advance therapies for major unmet medical needs".

Gilead will support the Colorado-based company's work on its HBV therapeutic vaccine programme through Phase 1a trials, before taking full responsibility for the later-stage clinical development.

"Finite therapy remains a significant unmet need for patients with chronic hepatitis B," said Norbert Bischofberger, chief scientific officer at Gilead.

Earlier this month, Gilead received exclusive worldwide development rights to Boehringer Ingelheim's non-catalytic site integrase inhibitors for HIV after signing a licensing agreement with the German company.