Gilead Sciences reports positive long-term trial data for Zydelig

Gilead Sciences has announced new clinical trial data from a long-term follow-up study of its oncology product Zydelig.

Results describing the prolonged safety and disease control benefits of the drug have been presented at the latest American Society of Hematology annual meeting.

Data from the studies underlined the strong duration of response, progression-free survival and safety profile for Zydelig in relapsed patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, follicular lymphoma and small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Gilead Sciences, said: "The results presented this week demonstrate the long-term benefit of Zydelig in patient populations that often have limited or no treatment options due to age or lack of response to existing therapies."

Zydelig is an oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta, a protein that plays a role in the activation, proliferation and viability of B cells – a critical component of the immune system.

The drug was approved in Europe for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and follicular lymphoma in September 2014.