Gilead
Gilead develops drugs for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and influenza, as well as pulmonary disorders such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cystic fibrosis. The company’s first key product, Viread, is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that was launched in 2001 and is now firmly established as a mainstay of treatment for HIV infection. In 2004, the company launched Truvada, which has become the backbone of therapy for the majority of HIV patients. In July 2006, Gilead launched Atripla, a once-daily fixed-dose tablet that includes Truvada and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Sustiva. Atripla has rapidly become the drug of choice in the US and Europe for newly diagnosed HIV patients. In addition, the company’s integrase inhibitor, currently in Phase III trials, and fixed-dose combination of Truvada and Tibotec’s non-nucleoside TMC-278, filed in the US and Europe, could offer HIV patients other alternatives to combat the disease.
The introduction of Hepsera established Gilead as an important player in the treatment of hepatitis B infection and the launch of Viread for this indication in 2008 should expand the franchise as Viread has shown better efficacy. The company receives a royalty from partner Roche on worldwide sales of Tamiflu for the treatment and prevention of influenza. In June 2007, Gilead launched Letairis for the treatment of PAH, which competes with Actelion’s Tracleer. Cayston, a new antibiotic for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, was launched in the US and Europe in 2010.
