Gilead’s experimental HIV treatment shows low discontinuation rates in studies

Feb 25 (Reuters) – Gilead Sciences on Wednesday said its experimental single-tablet HIV treatment was generally well tolerated with low discontinuation rates, positioning the single-tablet regimen as a potential option for patients to switch to after the virus is already suppressed.

Detailed results from another late-stage trial were presented on Wednesday at a conference in Denver, as Gilead prepares regulatory filings for the experimental combination.

In one trial, discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 1.6% and 0.5% in the two treatment arms respectively. Both data were considered low.

In the same trial, 0.8% of patients taking the combination pill had detectable virus in their blood after 48 weeks, compared with 1.1% of those who remained on multi-tablet regimens.

The company studied the pill in HIV patients whose virus was already suppressed, including those switching from complex multi-tablet regimens or from a guideline-recommended single-tablet treatment.

Participants also reported higher treatment satisfaction after switching to the experimental regimen, according to a paper published in The Lancet.

Gilead said it plans to submit data from both trials to regulators. The combination has not been approved by any regulatory authority.

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru)