Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) announced that the European Commission has granted Marketing Authorization for Biktarvy® (bictegravir 50mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg; BIC/FTC/TAF), a once-daily single tablet regimen (STR) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. BIC/FTC/TAF combines the potency of the novel integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) bictegravir, with the demonstrated safety and efficacy profile of Descovy® (emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg; FTC/TAF), a guidelines-recommended dual nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbone. Today’s decision makes BIC/FTC/TAF Gilead’s third FTC/TAF-based STR approved in the European Union in the past three years (see also Gilead Sciences Inc.).
In Europe, BIC/FTC/TAF is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults without present or past evidence of viral resistance to the integrase class, emtricitabine or tenofovir. No dosage adjustment of BIC/FTC/TAF is required in patients with estimated creatinine clearance (CrCL) greater than or equal to 30 mL per minute. BIC/FTC/TAF has convenient dosing, does not require testing for HLA-B 5701, and has no food intake or baseline viral load or CD4 count restrictions.
“To help support the long-term health of people living with HIV, it is crucial to have regimens that deliver durable viral suppression with a high barrier to resistance,” said Professor Alan Winston, Professor of HIV and Genitourinary Medicine at Imperial College and Consultant Physician at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, UK. “In clinical trials through 48 weeks, BIC/FTC/TAF has shown high efficacy and zero resistance. With convenient dosing and few pre-screening or ongoing monitoring requirements, it has the potential to simplify treatment initiation, and follow-up over time.”
Today’s decision is supported by data from four ongoing Phase 3 studies: Studies 1489 and 1490 in treatment-naive HIV-1 infected adults, and Studies 1844 and 1878 in virologically suppressed adults. The trials are comprised of a population of 2,415 participants. BIC/FTC/TAF met its primary objective at 48 weeks in all four studies.
Through 48 weeks, no participants in any of the four studies failed BIC/FTC/TAF with treatment-emergent virologic resistance, no participants discontinued BIC/FTC/TAF due to renal adverse events and there were no cases of proximal renal tubulopathy or Fanconi syndrome. The most common adverse reactions in patients taking BIC/FTC/TAF were diarrhea, nausea and headache.
“We are pleased to offer BIC/FTC/TAF, the latest innovation in our comprehensive HIV research and development program, which encompasses prevention, treatment and cure,” said Andrew Cheng, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. “The approval of BIC/FTC/TAF demonstrates our continued commitment to improving care for people living with HIV, and we look forward to working with health authorities across Europe to ensure that BIC/FTC/TAF is made widely available as soon as possible.”
Additional studies not included in the marketing authorization application are also ongoing, including dedicated studies in women, and in adolescents and children.
BIC/FTC/TAF was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 7, 2018.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.