Gilead Sciences provides updates on new hepatitis C therapies

Gilead Sciences has issued a report highlighting its progress in the development of a number of new therapies for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Since the company completed its acquisition of Pharmasset last year, it has fully enrolled four phase III studies of the developmental therapy sofosbuvir, while a further two phase III trials of a sofosbuvir/GS-5885 combination will be initiated during the first quarter of 2013.

Recent results from the ongoing phase II Electron study assessing this combination have demonstrated its potential efficacy, while efforts are being made to develop a once-daily fixed-dose version of the therapy.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Gilead Sciences, said: "We are on track to submit the initial regulatory filing for sofosbuvir by mid-2013 and to file for approval of the fixed-dose combination of sofosbuvir and GS-5885 in 2014."

Last month, the company announced plans to acquire YM BioSciences, a deal that adds a promising new JAK inhibitor to its oncology and inflammation pipeline.