Gilead Sciences has received a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the label expansion of its human immunodeficiency virus -1 (HIV-1) fixed dose combination therapy, Biktarvy (bictegravir 50mg/emtricitabine 200mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25mg). The therapy is approved in pregnant patients in their second and third trimesters and up to 16 weeks following delivery (postpartum) with suppressed viral loads of HIV-1. The FDA first approved Biktarvy as a complete regimen for treating HIV-1 in adults who either have no antiretroviral treatment history or as a replacement for the current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically suppressed, in 2018.The FDA label expansion was based on the data from an open-label Phase Ib trial (study 5310). The single-arm study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of Biktarvy in 32 pregnant patients with suppressed viral loads of HIV-1. All the participants maintained viral suppression during pregnancy and through 18 weeks postpartum, with lower ...
Severe acute malnutrition is responsible for nearly half of all child deaths globally and affects 17 million children annually A trial led by researchers at Queen Mary University London, in partnership with two research institutes in Zambia and Zimbabwe, has identified the mechanisms that contribute to the long-term impacts of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and HIV infection in children. Funded through the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Global Challenges Research Fund, the study published in Nature Communications aims to identify a treatment to promote the healing of intestinal damage caused by SAM. Affecting around 17 million children every year, predominantly in Africa, SAM and malnutrition are responsible for almost half of all child deaths globally and cause damage to the enteropathy, the small intestine, by reducing its ability to absorb nutrients. The new phase 2 trial, involving 125 children who had been hospitalised due to complications from arising SAM, evaluated four ...
Davy James Expanded indication for Edurant in combination with other antiretroviral therapies includes treatment-naïve children with HIV-1 RNA <100,000 copies/mL aged at least 2 years and weighing between 14 kg and 25 kg. The FDA has approved an expanded indication for Johnson & Johnson’s Edurant PED (rilpivirine) in combination with other antiretroviral therapies (ART) to treat HIV-1 in treatment-naïve children (with HIV-1 RNA <100,000 copies/mL) aged at least 2 years and weighing between 14 kg and 25 kg.1 Edurant is an HIV-1 specific, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor previously approved in combination with ART in treatment-naïve patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 35 kg with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL. “Decades of experience with the global HIV epidemic have made it clear that new and improved treatment options are needed to support the diverse population of people living with HIV on their ...
More awareness is needed to encourage women to take up HIV testing amid slow progress in tackling transmission, the UK Health Security Agency’s Chief Medical Adviser has warned today. Despite a significant fall in cases among gay and bisexual men between 2019 and 2022, heterosexual groups are not following the same trajectory. Since 2021, progress has slowed in reducing HIV transmission among heterosexual women, with cases rising by 26% from 447 to 564 in 2022. And in 2022, 40% of women attending sexual health services were not offered an HIV test compared to 27% of heterosexual men and 23% of gay and bisexual men who weren’t offered a test. Factors including a fall in the number of heterosexuals testing since the COVID-19 pandemic and a focus on groups other than women are among the reasons believed responsible. Women were also less likely to start or continue PrEP, according to the ...
Don Tracy, Associate Editor Novel formulation of cabotegravir (CAB-ULA) allows for dosing intervals of at least four months.Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/alexskopjeViiV Healthcare has announced promising results from a Phase I study on a new formulation of cabotegravir (Apretude), known as cabotegravir ultra long-acting (CAB-ULA) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Findings suggested that CAB-ULA is well-tolerated and has a pharmacokinetic profile supportive of extended dosing intervals. According to a company press release, the formulation allows dosing intervals of four months, resulting in a reduction of clinical visits for HIV patients.1 “The HIV community has told us of their desire for longer-acting medicines that can help alleviate the burden of daily treatment,” said Kimberly Smith, MD, MPH, head of research and development, ViiV Healthcare, in the press release. “ViiV Healthcare is a pioneer and leader in the development of long-acting HIV medicine, having already brought innovations through injectable therapies to the ...
When a plaintiff raises allegations of negligence against a company, the claims typically center on defective products that can cause harm. But in Gilead’s years-long court battle over its tenofivor-based HIV meds, patients have put a unique twist on that norm with their argument that the company delayed development of a safer drug. By doing so, the company was negligent, according to the plaintiffs, despite the earlier med’s effectiveness. Now, in a decision that could raise uncertainty for manufacturers across several industries, a California appeals court determined that the plaintiff’s negligence claim can stand. The allegations date back to 2001, when Gilead launched its tenofovir disoproxil fumarate- (TDF) based HIV med. While effective in HIV treatment, users of TDF risked adverse events such as skeletal and kidney damage. Around the same time, the company discovered a similar but safer candidate called tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), according to the plaintiffs. After ...
Novartis has shared positive top-line results from two late-stage studies evaluating its Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, remibrutinib, in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) whose symptoms are inadequately controlled by H1-antihistamines. Affecting 40 million people worldwide, CSU is a debilitating and unpredictable condition characterised by the occurrence of itchy hives and/or deep tissue swelling that lasts for six weeks or longer. H1-antihistamines are the first-line treatment for the condition; however, approximately 60% of patients are inadequately controlled by these alone and continue to live with the distressing symptoms of CSU. Novartis’ remibrutinib works by blocking the cascade of BTK, an enzyme central to the release of histamine and, when spontaneously activated, plays a critical role in the symptoms associated with CSU. The ongoing phase 3 REMIX-1 and REMIX-2 trials met their primary endpoint of absolute change from baseline in weekly urticaria activity score (UAS7) at week 12, demonstrating clinically ...
By Kate Goodwin Pictured: Novartis Building/iStock, JHVE Photo With Xolair’s patents set to expire over the next year, Novartis has been looking to strengthen its grip on the chronic spontaneous urticaria market. Thursday, the Swiss pharma shared positive Phase III results for chronic hives with its BTK inhibitor and announced plans to submit for regulatory approval next year. In two late-stage studies, remibrutinib met the primary endpoint of change from baseline in a weekly urticaria activity score at week 12. While studies will continue for a full year, the BTK inhibitor demonstrated a rapid onset, improving patients’ symptoms in as little as two weeks. Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) deal with chronic hives that can last for six weeks or longer. The trigger is internal, as opposed to allergen exposure. While antihistamines are the first line of treatment, around 60% of patients’ symptoms are inadequately controlled with antihistamines alone. ...
GSK’s Cabenuva made history in 2020 as the world’s first complete, long-acting HIV regimen. But the injectable drug is approved in various countries only as a switch therapy for patients who already have undetectable HIV levels in the blood. Trying to reach tough-to-treat patients who have difficulty controlling the virus with existing daily oral therapies, GSK’s ViiV Healthcare is getting creative. To seek an approval for Cabenuva in patients who aren’t virologically suppressed while on oral drugs, GSK’s ViiV is exploring running a clinical trial using a historical control group. This would replace the standard practice of randomizing some patients in the study to receive standard-of-care oral meds, ViiV’s R&D head Kimberly Smith, M.D., said during a recent interview. The FDA in February unveiled draft guidance laying out the considerations for the use of external control groups in clinical trials to prove a drug’s safety and efficacy. The gist is, ...
Right before opening arguments were set to begin in Gilead Sciences and Teva’s HIV antitrust trial, the two came to a last-minute settlement with some of the plaintiff groups. Both companies settled with the pharmacy plaintiffs, a group that includes CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid and Walgreens, while Gilead made a deal with the direct purchasers. Now, indirect purchasers and others involved in the suit can take their claims to a California federal jury. Gilead and Teva confirmed the settlements, and Gilead noted that the lawsuit with the other parties is ongoing. “The claims against Gilead in this lawsuit lack merit, do not accurately reflect antitrust laws, and ignore Gilead’s history of innovation and scientific advancements to help address the pressing challenges of the HIV epidemic,” a Gilead spokesperson said over email. The deals mark an eleventh hour end to a sprawling case that dates back to 2019, when plaintiffs including ...
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