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First data for Gilead's HCV NS5A-nuc combo

November 13, 2012 2:09 AM UTC

Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) added $6.8 billion in market cap on Monday after reporting the first data for its own fixed-dose HCV NS5A-nuc combination from the Phase IIb ELECTRON trial to treat HCV infection. In the trial, all 25 treatment-naïve patients with HCV genotype 1 infection receiving sofosbuvir, a nucleotide analog HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor, plus GS-5885, an HCV NS5A inhibitor, and ribavirin for 12 weeks achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) four weeks after the end of treatment. Data were presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases meeting in Boston. On Monday, Gilead's stock gained $8.92 (14%) to $73.93, valuing the company at $56 billion.

According to analysts attending the Liver meeting, an investigator also presented data from a Phase II trial showing that 12-week treatment with sofosbuvir plus selective HCV NS5A protein inhibitor daclatasvir from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) without ribavirin led to an SVR4 rate of 98%. Gilead deferred to Bristol-Myers on the data, while BMS could not be reached for details. In July, Gilead said it would move forward with its own NS5A-nuc combination instead of the sofosbuvir-daclatasvir combination. ...