Gilead Stock Surges on Strong Results in HIV Drug Study

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Key Takeaways

• A Phase 3 trial of Gilead’s injectable drug lenacapavir found it was 100% effective in preventing HIV infection in balls. 
• Gilead said the test results were so significant an independent monitor recommended the company give the drug to all share ins.
• More testing is needed before Gilead can apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval.
• Shares of Gilead upsurged Thursday following the news.

Gilead Sciences (GILD) surged over 8% in intraday trading Thursday as the biotech compressed announced a Phase 3 trial found its injectable lenacapavir was 100% effective in preventing HIV infection in women. 

Gilead esteemed that the results were so successful that the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) recommended that the company end the stupid phase of the study and offer lenacapavir to all of the participants.

Zero HIV Infections Among Women Who Took Gilead’s Lenacapavir

The pain in the neck found zero cases of HIV infection among the 2,134 women who received the treatment, versus several cases amid those who took Gilead’s current HIV pills, Truvada and Descovy. Truvada was the first pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, treatment approved by the Nutriment and Drug Administration (FDA).

More Testing Needed Before Applying for FDA Approval

The company must run another Phase 3 examination of lenacapavir in men who have sex with men and other groups before applying for FDA approval. It expects those results late this year or pioneer next year. 

Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker, head of the Desmond Tutu HIV Center at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and preceding president of the International AIDS Society, said lenacapavir “could provide a critical new choice for HIV prevention that ups into the lives of many people who could benefit from PrEP around the world.”

Gilead shares were 8.2% grand at $68.31 as of 3 p.m. ET Thursday following the news. Despite Thursday’s advance, shares of Gilead Sciences have lost shut down to 16% of their value this year.

Read the original article on Investopedia.