Gilead Sciences and Janssen to develop new HIV therapy

Gilead Sciences has announced an expansion to its existing partnership with Janssen, focusing on the development of an innovative HIV therapy.

The company will work with Janssen's Irish research and development division to commercialise a new once-daily single tablet regimen containing Gilead's tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and emtricitabine, in combination with Janssen's rilpivirine.

Gilead will initiate phase III studies of the therapy in the coming months and will also be responsible for the manufacturing, registration, distribution and commercialisation of the regimen in most countries, with Janssen handling distribution in approximately 17 markets.

TAF is a novel nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that has been shown to offer high antiviral efficacy at a dose ten times lower than Gilead's established product Viread, as well as an improved renal and bone safety profile.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Gilead Sciences, said: "We believe that TAF's efficacy and safety advantages may make it a strong backbone of new fixed-dose combinations and single tablet regimens."

This comes after the firm announced earlier this month that it will be working with ONO Pharmaceutical on the development of a new treatment for B-cell malignancies and other diseases.