Gilead Sciences commences phase III study of HIV therapy

Gilead Sciences has initiated a phase III trial programme for a new single-tablet regimen containing tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), for use in the treatment of HIV-1 infections.

The company has commenced Study 104, the first of two phase III trials that will compare the new tablet to its established product Stribild among adult patients new to HIV therapy, while the second study will begin later this quarter.

TAF is a novel prodrug of tenofovir, the active agent in Gilead's product Viread, and is being combined with elvitegravir, cobicistat and emtricitabine to create a potentially beneficial treatment regimen that has already shown promise in phase II trials.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Gilead Sciences, said: "We believe that TAF's smaller milligram size has the potential to offer safety and tolerability advantages over existing therapies and may enable the creation of new single tablet regimens for HIV."

Earlier this month, the company allied with MacroGenics on a new drug development alliance to create a series of four innovative new drug products.