FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 26, 2014--
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that the Committee
for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of
the European Medicines Agency, has adopted a positive opinion on the
company’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Harvoni®,an investigational once-daily tablet combining the NS5A
inhibitor ledipasvir (LDV) 90 mg and the nucleotide analog polymerase
inhibitor sofosbuvir (SOF) 400 mg, for the treatment of chronic
hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults.
The CHMP opinion was adopted following an accelerated review procedure,
which is reserved for medicinal products that are expected to be of
major public health interest. The CHMP’s recommendation will now be
reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to approve
medicines for use in the 28 countries of the European Union.
The CHMP positive opinion for Harvoniis supported by data from
three Phase 3 studies (ION-1, ION-2 and ION-3). These studies evaluated
8, 12 or 24 weeks of treatment withHarvoni, with or without
ribavirin, among nearly 2,000 genotype 1 HCV patients with compensated
liver disease. These studies included cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic
patients who were new to HCV treatment and those who had failed prior
therapy with an interferon-based regimen, including regimens containing
an HCV protease inhibitor. The positive opinion was also supported by
preliminary data from the SOLAR-1 trial in decompensated cirrhotic and
pre- and post-transplant patients, the ELECTRON-2 trial in genotype 3
patientsand phase 2 studies in genotype 4 patients.
Approximately nine million people in Europe are infected with the
hepatitis C virus, a major cause of liver cancer and liver
transplantation. Genotype 1 is the most prevalent form of HCV in Europe,
and accounts for 60 percent of infections worldwide. This is followed by
genotypes 2 and 3, while genotypes 4-6 are more prevalent in Asia and
Africa.
Sofosbuvir as a single agent was granted marketing authorization in the
European Union on January 16, 2014 under the trade name Sovaldi®.
Sovaldi is also approved for use in the United States, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Switzerland and Turkey.
Harvoniis an investigational product and its safety and efficacy
have not been established in the European Union.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops
and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical
need. The company's mission is to advance the care of patients suffering
from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City,
California, Gilead has operations in North and South America, Europe and
Asia Pacific.
Forward-Looking Statement
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, including the risk
that the MAA may not be approved by the European Commission, and
marketing approval, if granted, may have significant limitations on its
use. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those referred to in the
forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described in
detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2014, as filed 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.
Sovaldi and Harvoni are registered trademarks of Gilead Sciences,
Inc., or its related companies
For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s
website at www.gilead.com,
follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs
at +1 (650) 574-3000.
Source: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Gilead Sciences, Inc.Patrick O’Brien, +1 650-522-1936 (Investors)Cara
Miller, +1 650-522-1616 (Media, U.S.)Arran Attridge, +44 208 587
2477 (Media, EU)
