Gilead Sciences receives EU approval for HIV therapy Odefsey

Gilead Sciences has announced that its new HIV therapy Odefsey has been approved by the European Commission.

The EU regulatory body has granted marketing authorisation for the once-daily single-tablet regimen, which consists of emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in certain patients.

Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide are the two active ingredients that make up Gilead's existing therapy Descovy, combined with Janssen's rilpivirine. It is the second single-tablet regimen based on Descovy to be approved in Europe.

The safety and efficacy of the new treatment option has been demonstrated in clinical trials, and it is currently the smallest pill of any single-tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, Gilead's executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer, said: "The approval of Odefsey underscores Gilead's ongoing commitment to researching and developing new treatment options to help address the evolving needs of a range of HIV patients."

The company received EU approval for two separate Descovy dosing options in April this year.