Gilead Sciences reports positive phase III data for HIV drug elvitegravir

Gilead Sciences has announced new clinical trial data from a phase III study of its investigational antiretroviral drug elvitegravir for HIV-1 infection.

The novel oral integrase inhibitor has been evaluated in a comparative study in which its safety and efficacy were measured against raltegravir over a 48-week period.

Results from the trial showed that Gilead's drug delivered non-inferior performance to the control therapy in terms of viral load benefits, while safety and resistance profiles and discontinuation rates were also comparable.

This data could prove instrumental in Gilead's efforts to seek regulatory approval for elvitegravir, both as a standalone product and as a component of the Quad combination therapy option.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Gilead Sciences, said: "We believe elvitegravir, cobicistat and the Quad have the potential to be important new components of HIV therapy."

Last month, the company allied with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals to create another new HIV treatment, combining Tibotec's Prezista with Gilead's cobicistat.