Gilead, Roche deal

The companies will co-promote Roche's Roferon-A interferon alfa to treat chronic hepatitis C in the U.S. under a three-year agreement. Roche markets Roferon-A in the U.S. to treat several types of cancer. GILD's co-promotion rights will be limited to the hepatitis C indication, which is awaiting regulatory clearance. Roche will pay GILD a percentage of overall net product sales for hepatitis C. GILD employs 19 antiviral specialists and three regional directors to market its Vistide for CMV retinitis and expects to increase its sales force by 30-40 percent before year-end as a result of the Roche deal. ...