Gilead reassures with CAR-T therapy durability data – Leading US biotech and investment company favourite Gilead Sciences has reassured investors with an important clinical trial update for its high profile cancer therapy Yescarta, which was obtained via the $12bn purchase of Kite Pharmaceuticals earlier this year. Longer follow-up data from 108 advanced lymphoma patients treated with Yescarta in the Zuma-1 trial were presented at a scientific conference over the weekend and showed that 42% remained in remission after a median of 15.4 months, with 56% still alive. The figures are broadly similar to those disclosed after an earlier analysis at 8.7 months, a key concern for investors. Yescarta, which was approved by the US FDA in October for aggressive large B-cell lymphoma, is a so-called chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, in which cells taken form the patient are reprogrammed to recognise and attack cancer cells.
Gilead is a core holding for the UK’s Biotechnology Growth Trust BIOG (accounting for 4% of its NAV) as well as International Biotech Trust IBT (3%) and Switzerland’s BB Biotech (5.9%) and HBM Global Biotechnology. Gilead’s stock has fallen from a peak of $120/share in June 2015 to c$75/share currently, largely due to the contracting market for HCV drugs, in which it is the leading player, as patients have been cured of the chronic infection. The stock was up 2% on the news.
GILD : Gilead reassures with CAR-T therapy durability data