Gilead announces data for genotype 1 null responder hepatitis C patients enrolled in ELECTRON study

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) announced today that the majority of hepatitis C genotype 1 patients with a prior “null” response to an interferon (IFN)-containing regimen enrolled in the ongoing ELECTRON study experienced viral relapse within four weeks of completing 12 weeks of treatment with GS-7977 plus ribavirin (RBV). Ten patients were randomized to this arm of the ELECTRON study and data are available for eight of the 10 patients at this time. Among these eight patients, six have experienced viral relapse. Two patients have not relapsed; however, they have only reached the two week post-treatment time point.

“These data answer an important question about the use of GS-7977 and ribavirin for the treatment of genotype 1 null responder patients, suggesting that additional direct acting antivirals may be necessary to effectively treat this patient population,” said Norbert Bischofberger, PhD, Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer. “We will continue to explore a number of therapeutic approaches to address this significant unmet medical need, including combinations with other oral antivirals.”

GS-7977 is a nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor that is currently being studied for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. A number of ongoing Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are evaluating the safety and efficacy of the compound with and without RBV and/or pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) in patients with genotypes 1-6 who are treatment naïve, treatment experienced, or have had a “null” response to Peg-IFN.

Genotype 2 and 3 data from the ELECTRON study were presented at the 62nd annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (The Liver Meeting 2011). Data from the genotype 1 null responder arm of the study will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference.

Results from ongoing studies in genotype 1 treatment-naïve patients will be available in the coming months. The first data evaluating GS-7977 plus RBV for 12 weeks in genotype 1 naïve patients will come from an arm of the QUANTUM study with 25 patients at the end of the first quarter of 2012. This will be followed in the second quarter by data from the ELECTRON study involving 25 patients and, early in the third quarter, data on GS-7977 and RBV treatment for 24 weeks from an arm of the QUANTUM study will become available.