Gilead's hep B drug as effective as Viread but safer

Last Updated: 2016-01-05

By Reuters Staff

(Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc said its experimental hepatitis B drug proved as effective as but safer than its approved treatment, Viread, in two late-stage studies.

The once-daily drug, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), showed improved renal and bone safety compared with Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), Gilead said on Tuesday.

The company plans to seek regulatory approval for TAF in the United States and Europe in the first quarter of 2016.

The drugmaker said in September that TAF was found safer than but as effective as its popular HIV drug, Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine), in a late-stage study.

Patients given TAF experienced significantly lower loss of bone mineral density and kidney function than those on Truvada.

Gilead is developing TAF as a safer replacement for Viread and Truvada.