04/03/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/03/2025 14:32
Foster City, Calif., April 3 2025 - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the submission to Brazil's Health Regulatory Agency, ANVISA, for lenacapavir, the company's twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, for the prevention of HIV as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This submission was filed under the priority review pathway, pending confirmation by ANVISA, and complements the previously requested indication for heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) adults with multidrug resistance.
The priority review was requested to ANVISA following the criteria defined by regulation that considers the potentially high public health impact of twice-yearly lenacapavir for PrEP in Brazil. The application follows the announcement in Februarythat the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated the accelerated review of Gilead's Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) and EU-Medicines for all (EU-M4all) application for lenacapavir for PrEP, and the announcement that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the filing of Gilead's New Drug Applications (NDAs) under priority review (following the previous receipt of Breakthrough Therapy Designation) for lenacapavir for PrEP.
The application submission for the prevention of HIV as PrEP is supported by data from the Phase 3 PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 trials conducted by Gilead.In PURPOSE 1(NCT04994509), which was conducted in South Africa and Uganda, data showed twice-yearly lenacapavir demonstrated zero infections in the lenacapavir group and 100% risk reduction and superiority compared to background HIV incidence (bHIV) for the investigational use of HIV prevention in cisgender women. The results from PURPOSE 2(NCT04925752), which included trial participants based in Brazil and six other countries, demonstrated that 99.9% of participants in the lenacapavir group did not acquire HIV infection, a 96% risk reduction in HIV infections, and superiority compared to bHIV among a broad and geographically diverse range of cisgender men and gender-diverse people. In both trials, twice-yearly lenacapavir also demonstrated superiority of prevention of HIV infections when compared with once-daily oral emtricitabine 200mg + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300mg and was generally well-tolerated, with no significant or new safety concerns identified. Based in part on these trial results, Science Magazine in December 2024 named lenacapavir its 2024 "Breakthrough of the Year."
Gilead is executing an access strategy, informed by global health advocates and organizations, that prioritizes speed and enables the most efficient paths for the regulatory review, approval of and access to lenacapavir for PrEP in regions around the world.
The use of lenacapavir for the prevention of HIV is investigational and is not approved anywhere globally.
The use of lenacapavir for the treatment of HIV is not approved in Brazil.
There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS.
About Gilead HIV
For more than 35 years, Gilead has been a leading innovator in the field of HIV, driving advances in treatment, prevention and cure research. Gilead researchers have developed 12 HIV medications, including the first single-tablet regimen to treat HIV, the first antiretroviral for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help reduce new HIV infections, and the first long-acting injectable HIV treatment medication administered twice-yearly. Our advances in medical research have helped to transform HIV into a treatable, preventable, chronic condition for millions of people.
Gilead is committed to continued scientific innovation to provide solutions for the evolving needs of people affected by HIV around the world. Through partnerships, collaborations and charitable giving, the company also aims to improve education, expand access and address barriers to care, with the goal of ending the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere. Gilead was recognized as one of the leading philanthropic funders of HIV-related programs in a report released by Funders Concerned About AIDS.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including Gilead's ability to initiate, progress and complete clinical trials in the anticipated timelines or at all, and the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing and additional clinical trials, including those involving lenacapavir (such as PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2); uncertainties relating to regulatory applications and related filing and approval timelines, including the New Drug Applications seeking FDA approval, the MAA and EU-m4all seeking EMA approval and the submission seeking ANVISA approval, in each case, of lenacapavir for PrEP, and the submission seeking ANVISA approval of lenacapavir for treatment of HIV, and the risk that any regulatory approvals, if granted, may be subject to significant limitations on use or subject to withdrawal or other adverse actions by the applicable regulatory authority; the possibility that Gilead may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of lenacapavir for indications currently under evaluation and, as a result, lenacapavir may never be successfully commercialized for such indications; Gilead's ability to effectively manage the access strategy relating to lenacapavir, subject to necessary regulatory approvals; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors are described in detail in Gilead's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation and disclaims any intent to update any such forward-looking statements.
U.S. full Prescribing Information for Truvada, including Boxed Warning, and lenacapavir are available atwww.gilead.com.
Gilead and the Gilead logo and Truvada are registered trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.
For more information about Gilead, please visit the company's website atwww.gilead.com, follow Gilead on X/Twitter (@Gilead Sciences) and LinkedIn (@Gilead-Sciences).