Gilead Sciences’ Sovaldi wins drug discovery of the year prize

Gilead Sciences' drug Sovaldi has been named drug discovery of the year by the British Pharmacological Society.

The hepatitis C therapy was recognised for making a significant impact on an unmet medical need, as well as offering a significant improvement over existing treatment options, with the work of Gilead's researchers praised.

Sovaldi is designed to dramatically improve the chances of a cure for the disease compared with established treatments. In combination with other therapies, it can increase the chances of a patient's recovery to more than 90 percent.

This represents an important advance, given that the survival rate for hepatitis C was only six percent 25 years ago.

Professor Humphrey Rang, president of the British Pharmacological Society, said: "We are proud to make this award to the team at Gilead Sciences for their drug sofosbuvir, which transforms the treatment – and lives – of so many people with hepatitis C."

The company received European regulatory approval for Sovaldi at the start of 2014.