Gilead's HIV prevention trial shows promise with zero infections

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FOSTER CITY, Calif. - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) has reported that its Phase 3 trial of an injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, achieved a 100% efficacy rate in an interim analysis. The PURPOSE 1 trial, which compared the drug to daily oral Truvada, revealed no new HIV infections among participants receiving lenacapavir.

The trial involved over 5,300 cisgender women and adolescent girls in South Africa and Uganda, who were administered the drug twice yearly. The independent Data Monitoring Committee has recommended the termination of the blinded phase of the trial due to these positive results, allowing all participants access to lenacapavir.

Dr. Merdad Parsey, Chief Medical Officer at Gilead Sciences, expressed optimism about the potential of lenacapavir as a valuable tool in preventing HIV infections. The PURPOSE program, which includes this trial, aims to innovate in trial design and community engagement, particularly focusing on those disproportionately affected by HIV.

While lenacapavir showed superior efficacy to Truvada and the background HIV incidence, the Descovy group did not demonstrate statistical superiority. Adherence to daily oral pills has been a challenge in previous trials, and further analysis is ongoing.

Linda-Gail Bekker, Director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Center, highlighted the benefits of lenacapavir, such as reduced stigma and improved adherence due to its infrequent dosing schedule.

However, it's important to note that lenacapavir, as well as Descovy for HIV prevention in cisgender women, remains investigational and has yet to be approved for safety or efficacy globally.

Gilead anticipates additional results from the PURPOSE 2 trial, which includes a broader demographic, by late 2024 or early 2025. The company is also planning to discuss access strategies for lenacapavir in high-incidence, resource-limited countries.

This news is based on a press release statement from Gilead Sciences, Inc.

In other recent news, Gilead Sciences' investigational oral GLP-1 agonist, GS-4571, is showing promise in preclinical studies, as indicated by Evercore ISI's maintained Outperform rating on the company's shares. The firm's interest was piqued by intriguing preclinical data, with GS-4571 demonstrating potent selectivity to GLP-1 receptors in both human and monkey cells, and improved glycemic control in humanized mice and monkeys.

RBC Capital, while maintaining its Sector Perform rating, highlighted the significance of Gilead's HIV treatments, particularly the potential of the oral lenacapavir and bictegravir combination. The firm also emphasized Gilead's efforts to expand its HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis with the investigational subcutaneous formulation of lenacapavir.

Despite setbacks in oncology, BMO Capital Markets sustained its Outperform rating for Gilead. This includes the EVOKE-01 study not meeting its primary endpoint, and the Phase 3 TROPiCS-04 study of Trodelvy failing to meet the primary endpoint in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. However, Gilead is in discussions with the FDA about future actions and potential additional trials for Trodelvy.

Furthermore, BMO Capital Markets maintained its Outperform rating on Gilead following the presentation of positive interim data from the Phase 3 ASSURE trial, suggesting potential approval of seladelpar for Primary Biliary Cholangitis patients.

InvestingPro Insights

Amidst the promising developments in Gilead Sciences' HIV prevention drug trials, the company's financial health and market performance provide a broader context for investors. With a market capitalization of $78.68 billion and a robust gross profit margin of 77.52% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, Gilead stands as a substantial entity in the biotechnology industry. The company's commitment to innovation in HIV treatment is matched by its financial stability, as evidenced by its ability to consistently raise its dividend for 9 consecutive years, a testament to its strong free cash flow.

With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 10.78, adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, Gilead is trading at a valuation that implies a strong free cash flow yield. This is particularly relevant for investors looking for companies with the potential for long-term value creation. Additionally, Gilead's stock has been noted for its low price volatility, which might appeal to investors seeking stability in their biotech investments.

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