http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contentValue=822761&contentType=newsarchive&channelID=26
[This should have implications for HBV too, StephenW]
Gilead Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating GS-7340, A Low-Dose Novel Prodrug of Tenofovir for the Treatment of HIV
From the PharmaLive.com News Archive - Jan. 24, 2012 – Phase 2 Study Will Examine GS-7340 as Part of a New Once-Daily, Single-Tablet Regimen – FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 24, 2012 - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating GS-7340 for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adults. GS-7340 is a novel prodrug of tenofovir, the active agent in Viread® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). In previous studies, GS-7340 has demonstrated the ability to provide greater antiviral efficacy at a dose that is ten times lower than Viread. “The advancement of GS-7340 into this Phase 2 study is an important milestone in Gilead's efforts to develop the next generation of best-in-class therapies for HIV,” said Norbert Bischofberger, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, Gilead Sciences. “Because it can be used once-daily at one-tenth the dose of Viread, which is a much lower dose compared to other currently available anti-HIV compounds, GS-7340 could enable the development of a new range of single-tablet regimens for HIV that optimize clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability for patients.” The Phase 2 study will evaluate GS-7340 as part of a once-daily, co-formulated single-tablet regimen that will also contain the boosting agent cobicistat, the integrase inhibitor elvitegravir, and Emtriva® (emtricitabine). The GS-7340-containing single-tablet regimen will be compared to Gilead's Quad single-tablet regimen, which contains Viread and Emtriva (as Truvada®), elvitegravir and cobicistat, and is currently under review for marketing approval by U.S. and European regulatory agencies. Gilead plans to initiate a second Phase 2 trial for GS-7340 later in 2012 that will assess GS-7340 as part of another single-tablet regimen containing cobicistat, Emtriva and Tibotec Pharmaceuticals' protease inhibitor Prezista® (darunavir). Gilead announced an agreement with Tibotec to develop this single-tablet regimen on November 15, 2011. Viread was approved for HIV treatment in 2001 and has accumulated more than 4.4 million patient years of clinical experience to date. About the GS-7340 Phase 2 Study The Phase 2 study is a randomized, double-blind 48-week clinical trial among HIV-1 infected adults with HIV RNA levels (viral load) greater than or equal to 5,000 copies/mL and CD4 cell counts greater than 50 cells/mm3. A total of 150 patients will be randomized (2:1) to receive a once-daily tablet containing GS-7340 10 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/elvitegravir 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg (n=100) or the Quad (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/elvitegravir 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg) (n=50). The HIV virus of participants must be sensitive to both tenofovir and emtricitabine, prior use of antiretrovirals is not allowed and participants must have adequate renal function (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of greater than or equal to 70 mL/min, according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula). The primary endpoint will be the proportion of patients with viral load less than 50 copies/mL at 24 weeks of treatment as determined by the FDA-defined snapshot analysis. Secondary endpoints will include the proportion of patients who achieve viral load of less than 50 copies/mL at 48 weeks of therapy, and change from baseline in HIV-1 RNA and in CD4+ cell count to Weeks 24 and 48. After week 48, patients will continue to take their blinded study drug until treatment assignments have been unblinded, at which point all will be given the option to participate in an open-label rollover extension and receive the GS-7340-based single-tablet regimen. Additional information about the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov. About GS-7340 GS-7340 is a novel prodrug of tenofovir, the active agent in the company's HIV drug Viread. Like Viread, GS-7340 is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NtRTI). Phase 2a dose-ranging studies have identified a dose that is ten times lower than Viread and provides greater antiviral efficacy. The smaller milligram size of GS-7340 may enable the development of new fixed-dose combinations and single-tablet regimens for HIV therapy that are not feasible with Viread. |