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These data are from Study 903, an ongoing three-year, randomized, double-blind trial being conducted in the United States, Europe and South America. The study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of a treatment regimen of Viread, lamivudine (3TC) and efavirenz to a regimen of stavudine, 3TC and efavirenz in 600 antiretroviral-naive patients with HIV infection. To maintain the blinded nature of the study, patients in the Viread arm receive one tablet, twice daily of stavudine placebo while patients in the stavudine arm receive one tablet, once daily of Viread placebo. Treatment assignments will remain blinded to patients and their physicians through 144 weeks. Results from the primary efficacy and safety endpoints of Study 903 were presented at the International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain in July 2002.
"The results of this analysis are particularly significant because side effects thought to be caused by mitochondrial toxicity are an area of great concern for patients. They decrease quality of life, contribute to non-adherence and can have significant long-term health consequences," said Dr. Gallant, a lead investigator for the study. "Since we're now faced with the prospect of treating HIV-infected patients over decades rather than months or years, it's critical that we are able to construct highly effective initial treatment regimens that are well tolerated and less toxic."
Study Results
In addition, the incidence of nucleoside analogue-associated toxicities, such as peripheral neuropathy and lipodystrophy, was three percent in the Viread-containing arm, compared with 10 percent in the stavudine-containing arm (p less than 0.001) after 48 weeks of treatment.
To explore the effect of treatment on mitochondrial DNA and its potential association with adverse effects, Gilead is conducting a sub-study of 227 patients enrolled in Study 903. Mitochondrial DNA levels were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and week 48 for sub-study patients. Because infection with HIV appears to result in decreased mitochondrial DNA levels in untreated individuals, levels also were assessed for a control group of uninfected males (n=49). This analysis shows that patients treated with Viread (n=113) experienced a significant median increase from baseline of 82 copies/cell of mitochondrial DNA (p less than 0.001) compared to an increase in the stavudine group (n=114) of only 18 copies/cell. The increase in mitochondrial DNA observed in patients receiving Viread brings the median level in those patients to levels seen in the uninfected cohort.
In a separate sub-study of 257 patients, venous lactate levels at week 48 were assessed. Ninety-three percent of Viread patients (n=128) compared to 64 percent of stavudine patients (n=129) had levels within normal limits (less than 2.1 milimoles/liter, p less than 0.0001).
Lipid and Metabolic Abnormalities in HIV Treatment
"These data empower HIV-infected patients and their physicians with the choice of an antiretroviral therapy that may spare some of the undesirable long-term side effects that have been associated with certain current treatment regimens," commented John C. Martin, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. "While the results are preliminary, Gilead intends to monitor both study groups for an additional two years to best evaluate how these data impact patients and the long-term success of therapy."
About Viread
In the United States, Viread is indicated for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. This indication is based on analyses of plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4 cell counts in a controlled study of Viread of 24 weeks duration and in a controlled, dose-ranging study of Viread of 48 weeks duration. Both studies were conducted in treatment-experienced adults with evidence of HIV-1 viral replication despite ongoing antiretroviral therapy. Studies in antiretroviral-naive patients are ongoing; consequently, the risk-benefit ratio for this population has yet to be determined.
Viread is approved in Europe for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in patients who are experiencing early virological failure.
Safety Profile
The most common adverse events in patients receiving Viread were mild to moderate gastrointestinal events, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and flatulence. Laboratory abnormalities observed in clinical studies occurred with similar frequency in the Viread and placebo-treated groups. In clinical practice, a number of adverse events, including renal impairment, nausea, rash and asthenia (weakness) have been reported. Renal impairment occurred most often in patients with underlying systemic or renal disease, or in patients taking concomitant nephrotoxic agents. Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues alone or in combination with other antiretrovirals.
About HIV/AIDS
About Gilead Sciences
This press release includes forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the risk that these 48-week data will not be observed through longer treatment periods. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described in detail in the Gilead Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and in Gilead's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead and Gilead assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Viread is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
CONTACT: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Susan Hubbard, 650/522-5715 (Investors)
Amy Flood, 650/522-5643 (Media)
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