From Gilead Sciences (GILD) fourth-quarter earnings conference call:
“The worldwide potential for all oral antiviral pan-genotypic HCV cure is sizable with over 12 million infected individuals in commercial markets alone. We are already in high gear preparing global launch plans that will bring GS-7977 expeditiously to patients around the world. Our established relationships with the hepatologist and gastroenterologist via Viread HPV, our knowledge of liver disease payers and policy makers and the exciting potential of leveraging our HIV resources to expand HCV-provided capacity is a galvanizing prospect. And I am confident the Gilead commercial organization will rise to the occasion…
…As you know, results from the ELECTRON study were presented by Pharmasset at AASLD last October where GS-7977 and ribavirin for 12 weeks resulted in 10 out of 10 cures in genotype 2/3 patients. We’re awaiting data from multiple studies in genotype 1 patients specifically from the ELECTRON study, which involve genotype 1, both treatment-naïve and null responders, as well as on the QUANTUM study, which involve genotype 1 treatment-naïve patients. We received news this week that our late breaker abstract has been accepted to CROI for 2 cohorts of genotype 1 HCV-infected patients from the ELECTRON study null responders and treatment naïve patients. In both cohorts of that study, ALL patients treated with GS-7977 and ribavirin achieved undetectable viral load at 4 weeks on treatment, also known as rapid biological response or RVR.”