CA-GILEAD-SCIENCES
20.12.2019 14:32:11 CET | Business Wire | Press release
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) announced today that the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved Vosevi® (sofosbuvir 400mg/velpatasvir 100mg/voxilaprevir 100mg), a once-daily single-tablet regimen for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who have failed prior treatment with a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.
The approval of Vosevi in China is supported by two global Phase 3 studies, POLARIS-1 and POLARIS-4, which evaluated 12 weeks of treatment with Vosevi among adults with HCV genotype 1-6 with or without compensated cirrhosis who had failed prior DAA treatment with or without an NS5A inhibitor. Across POLARIS-1 and POLARIS-4, 97 percent of patients treated with Vosevi (n=431/445) achieved SVR12, the primary endpoint to determine cure rate, defined as HCV RNA undetectable 12 weeks after completing therapy.
“People who have not achieved HCV cure with direct acting antiviral medicines are often faced with limited choices for re-treatment,” said Professor Lai Wei, Director of Hepatology and Pancreatic Center, Tsinghua University-affiliated Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital. “With high cure rates across all genotypes, Vosevi is a promising option for people who require a new regimen to potentially achieve an HCV cure.”
The most common adverse reactions (≥10 percent) experienced by patients treated with Vosevi in POLARIS-1 and POLARIS-4 were headache, fatigue, diarrhea and nausea. The proportion of patients who permanently discontinued treatment with Vosevi due to adverse events was 0.2 percent.
In China, approximately 10 million people are infected with HCV and it is the fourth most commonly reported infectious disease. HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 6 account for more than 96 percent of all cases.
“The approval of Vosevi in China means that many more patients with difficult-to-treat chronic HCV infection now have another chance at cure,” said Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. “It also represents another important step forward in achieving the public health goal of eliminating HCV in China and worldwide.”
Vosevi received marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2017. In the United States, Vosevi has a Boxed Warning in its product label regarding the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in HCV/HBV coinfected patients. See below for U.S. Important Safety Information and Indication.
U.S. Important Safety Information and Indications for Vosevi
BOXED WARNING: RISK OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION IN HCV/HBV COINFECTED PATIENTS
Test all patients for evidence of current or prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection before initiating treatment with Vosevi. HBV reactivation has been reported in HCV/HBV coinfected patients who were undergoing or had completed treatment with HCV direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and were not receiving HBV antiviral therapy. Some cases have resulted in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death. Cases have been reported in patients who are HBsAg positive, in patients with serologic evidence of resolved HBV and also in patients receiving certain immunosuppressant or chemotherapeutic agents; the risk of HBV reactivation associated with treatment with HCV DAAs may be increased in patients taking these other agents. Monitor HCV/HBV coinfected patients for hepatitis flare or HBV reactivation during HCV treatment and post-treatment follow-up. Initiate appropriate patient management for HBV infection as clinically indicated.
Contraindications
Vosevi is contraindicated with rifampin.
Warnings and Precautions
Risk of Hepatic Decompensation/Failure in Patients with Evidence of Advanced Liver Disease: Post-marketing cases of hepatic decompensation/failure, some fatal, have been reported in patients treated with HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor-containing regimens, including Vosevi. Reported cases occurred in patients with baseline cirrhosis with and without moderate or severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C). In patients with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A) or evidence of advanced liver disease such as portal hypertension, perform hepatic laboratory testing as clinically indicated; and monitor for signs and symptoms of hepatic decompensation such as the presence of jaundice, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and variceal hemorrhage. Discontinue Vosevi in patients who develop evidence of hepatic decompensation/failure. Vosevi is not recommended in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment or those with any history of prior hepatic decompensation/failure.
Serious Symptomatic Bradycardia When Coadministered with Amiodarone: Amiodarone is not recommended for use with Vosevi due to the risk of symptomatic bradycardia, particularly in patients also taking beta blockers or with underlying cardiac comorbidities and/or with advanced liver disease. A fatal cardiac arrest was reported in a patient taking amiodarone who was coadministered a sofosbuvir-containing regimen. In patients without alternative, viable treatment options, cardiac monitoring is recommended. Patients should seek immediate medical evaluation if they develop signs or symptoms of bradycardia.
Risk of Reduced Therapeutic Effect Due to Concomitant Use of Vosevi with P-gp Inducers and/or Moderate to Potent Inducers of CYP2B6, CYP2C8 or CYP3A4: St. John’s wort and carbamazepine are not recommended for use with Vosevi as they may significantly decrease sofosbuvir, velpatasvir and/or voxilaprevir plasma concentrations.
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%, all grades) observed with treatment with VOSEVI for 12 weeks were headache, fatigue, diarrhea and nausea.
Drug Interactions
Coadministration of Vosevi is not recommended with phenytoin, phenobarbital, oxcarbazepine, rifabutin, rifapentine, atazanavir, lopinavir, tipranavir/ritonavir, efavirenz, rosuvastatin, pitavastatin and cyclosporine due to changes (decreased or increased) in concentrations of sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, voxilaprevir and/or the other agent.
Consult the full Prescribing Information for Vosevi for more information on potentially significant drug interactions, including clinical comments.
U.S. INDICATION
Vosevi is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who have failed prior treatment with an HCV direct-acting antiviral (DAA) who have:
- genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 infection and have previously been treated with an HCV regimen containing an NS5A inhibitor
- genotype 1a or 3 infection and have previously been treated with an HCV regimen containing sofosbuvir without an NS5A inhibitor
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.
Forward-Looking Statement
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 the risk that physicians may not see the benefits of prescribing Vosevi for the treatment of adults with chronic HCV infection. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
U.S. full Prescribing Information for Vosevi, including BOXED WARNING , is available at www.gilead.com .
Vosevi is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.
For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com , follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191220005282/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group Raises US$1.24 Billion for Largest Reforestation Fund to Date[1]28.4.2026 17:00:00 CEST | Press release
Milestone positions Latin American reforestation strategy as a leading model for scalable, high-integrity conservation and restoration—combining sustainable commercial reforestation with large-scale ecosystem conservation and restoration to target economic returns, climate and biodiversity gains, and rural community benefits. Conservation International serves as Impact Adviser for social and environmental outcomes. BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (BTG Pactual TIG), one of the world’s largest timberland managers, today announced the close of fundraising for its Latin American Reforestation Strategy, reaching US$1.24 billion in commitments. This represents the largest reforestation fund closed to date,1 providing a model for large-scale reforestation and restoration that seeks to deliver durable climate impact, tangible benefits for rural communities, biodiversity outcomes, and sustainable commercial production. Global environmental organization Conservation International serves
Qatar Implements Relief Measures to Support Business Community28.4.2026 16:56:00 CEST | Press release
Qatar has activated a comprehensive package of support measures designed to maintain market stability and reinforce investor confidence amid evolving regional conditions. These measures, delivered through the nation’s foreign direct investment ecosystem, provide immediate financial, regulatory and operational relief to Qatar’s international business community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428904909/en/ Infographic highlights key relief measures implemented in Qatar to support the business community (Infographic: AETOSWire) H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Invest Qatar, stated: “Qatar’s commitment to its business community is unwavering. As regional conditions continue to evolve, we remain fully focused on acting decisively to support companies operating in our market, safeguard business continuity and reinforce confidence. Our approach is grounded i
Dubai’s Medcare Hospital Becomes the World’s First to Treat an Adult Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Patient Outside the US28.4.2026 15:57:00 CEST | Press release
Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital (MRSH) in Dubai has become the world’s first hospital outside the USA, to offer a newly licensed intrathecal gene therapy - Itvisma, to adult patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This one-time treatment was recently administered to a 22-year-old Egyptian patient, who was diagnosed at 18 months and confined to a wheelchair for most of his life. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428038416/en/ Dr. Vivek Mundada with Medcare multidisciplinary medical team (Photo: AETOSWire) Last year, Medcare also became the first healthcare provider globally to administer the newly licensed Itvisma to a four-year-old international SMA patient. SMA is a rare neuromuscular disease that leads to progressive muscle weakness and loss of mobility, impacting movement, breathing, and swallowing. Until now, advancements in gene therapy for SMA were primarily restricted to children under the age o
Perpetual Atomics and QSA Global Fuel the World’s First Americium-Powered Radioisotope Heater Unit Core28.4.2026 15:48:00 CEST | Press release
In a landmark achievement for international space exploration, Perpetual Atomics, QSA Global, Inc. and the University of Leicester have completed the first historical production of an Americium-fuelled Radioisotope Heater Unit (RHU) full scale core containing ceramic form americium-241 pellets in a metal containment structure. This breakthrough builds on the successful americium pelleting work in late 2025 and on two decades of experience in leading the development of americium space nuclear power systems by the Leicester team. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428027123/en/ QSA Global and Perpetual Atomics Team Born out of ENDURE, a European Space Agency (ESA) project, and part of a transatlantic collaboration, this achievement provides the steppingstones for an industrial pathway to deliver radioisotope power systems for spacecraft enabling these to survive and thrive in the most extreme environments in the
Alipay Launches AI Payment Processing Product to Help Businesses and OPCs Thrive in the Agentic Economy28.4.2026 15:47:00 CEST | Press release
New solution enables businesses to monetize services through AI agents Alipay today launched a new AI payment processing product that enables businesses, large and small, including One Person Companies (OPCs) in the Chinese mainland, to receive payments seamlessly when autonomous AI agents, including OpenClaw-type agents, purchase their services. This new product is being launched as AI agents are increasingly executing tasks on behalf of users, from booking travel and comparing prices, to allocating computing power and buying tokens. The product is available on Alipay’s website (https://aipay.alipay.com/). With Alipay’s AI payment processing product, small and medium-sized businesses do not need to build complex payment or settlement systems. By simply onboarding their monetizable services, businesses can reach more customers and receive payment each time an AI agent purchases their service. Bocha, an AI-powered search tool offering web search support for AI applications including Dee
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
