Gilead Sciences sees strong sales growth in first quarter

Gilead Sciences has hailed the performance of key pharmaceutical products after the company reported growing sales figures for the first quarter of 2010.

According to the company’s newest financial statement, product sales for the three-month period totalled $1.8 billion (1.2 billion pounds), a 24 per cent increase compared to the $1.5 billion taken in the first quarter of 2009.

This performance allowed the company to achieve its highest-ever quarterly revenue results, with Gilead citing the success of its antiviral product line as playing a primary role in this increase.

Sales of the HIV treatments Atripla, Truvada and Viread grew by 36 per cent, 11 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, with the unit as a whole exceeding 2009 levels by 19 per cent.

Other key achievements made by Gilead in the quarter included the conclusion of product trials for treatments such as cobicistat-boosted atazanavir, as well as the appointment of Per Wold-Olsen to its board of directors.

The company is also currently conducting a phase III study of its new Quad combination therapy for HIV patients, which will last for 96 weeks.