– Phase 3 Data from the BRAAVE 2020 Study in Black or African American Virologically Suppressed Adults Presented, Including Patients with a History of Treatment Failure or Pre-Existing Resistance –

– Analysis of Separate Studies Shows Biktarvy is Effective and Well-Tolerated in Treatment-Naïve Adults 50 and Older, with No Significant Differences in Bone Density, Kidney Safety or Weight Over Three Years –

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Gilead Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced data from the BRAAVE 2020 study, a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of switching to Biktarvy® (bictegravir 50mg/emtricitabine 200mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25mg tablets, BIC/FTC/TAF) in virologically suppressed adults living with HIV who self-identified as Black or African American. The data show that, at 24 weeks, switching to Biktarvy from a standard regimen of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus a third agent may potentially be an effective and well-tolerated treatment regimen in patients with a history of treatment failure or pre-existing resistance, and did not result in treatment emergent resistance to study drugs with Biktarvy. The use of Biktarvy in individuals with a history of treatment failure or known resistance to the components of Biktarvy is investigational.

“As an African American I have experienced the impact of HIV in my community, family and friends. Importantly, as a front-line doctor treating a high percentage of persons of color with HIV, I am keenly aware of race-specific complications affecting Black Americans with HIV. However, less is known of the impact that race has on the efficacy and side effects of HIV medications,” said Debbie P. Hagins, MD, Medical Director, CARE Centers of Coastal Georgia, APCRF, Coastal Health District, Savannah, GA and principal investigator for the BRAAVE 2020 study. “BRAAVE 2020 is a landmark HIV treatment study, investigating the specific treatment responses of Black and African Americans, who experience the highest rates of HIV in the United States. These findings from the BRAAVE study provide further evidence of Biktarvy’s role as an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for Black Americans living with HIV and supports further study in people living with HIV who have certain pre-existing drug resistance.”

Biktarvy is indicated in the U.S. as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults or pediatric patients weighing at least 25 kg who have no antiretroviral treatment history. While it is also indicated for treatment experienced adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 25 kg who are virologically suppressed and on a stable antiretroviral regimen, these patients must have no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to the individual components of Biktarvy.

On June 18, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the supplemental indication for including pediatric patients weighing at least 25 kg, an important milestone for Biktarvy and Gilead’s HIV treatment portfolio.

Gilead also announced results of a pooled analysis from two Phase 3 studies showing Biktarvy continued to be highly effective and well-tolerated in treatment-naïve patients age 50 and older over three years of treatment. Importantly, participants experienced no clinically significant differences in key measures such as bone density, renal laboratory markers or weight. These data from the two 144-week studies in treatment-naïve adults living with HIV will be presented at CROI 2020, in addition to results from an investigational study evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of low-dose Biktarvy in pediatric patients.

“These data affirm once-daily Biktarvy as an effective choice for appropriate people switching treatment regimens, and as a well-tolerated first-line option that enables people over 50 living with HIV to sustain an undetectable viral load over the long-term,” said Diana Brainard, MD, Senior Vice President, HIV and Emerging Viruses, Gilead Sciences. “The data presented at CROI 2020 are part of our relentless pursuit to address unmet needs in HIV treatment. The results underscore the ability of Biktarvy to meet the specific treatment needs of diverse groups of people living with HIV today, including men and women aging with HIV.”

Key abstracts for Biktarvy data presented at CROI 2020 include:

Oral 2979: Randomized Switch To B/F/TAF In African American Adults with HIV

In the BRAAVE 2020 study, adults (495) who self-identified as Black or African American and were virologically-suppressed on a baseline regimen of two NRTIs plus a third agent, were randomized 2:1 to switch to open-label Biktarvy once-daily or to stay on their baseline regimen. Study participants with prior treatment failure and pre-existing NNRTI, PI and/or NRTI resistance were eligible to enroll. People living with HIV with resistance to tenofovir (K65R/E/N, ≥3 thymidine analogue mutations or T69-insertions), primary INSTI-resistance, or a history of failure on an INSTI-based regimen were excluded. 32 percent of evaluable patients were cisgender women and 2 percent were transgender women. The primary endpoint of the study was noninferior virologic response (HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL) at Week 24. The secondary endpoint was a change from baseline in CD4 count.

The study showed noninferior antiviral efficacy for people switching to Biktarvy from a variety of regimens, including in patients with pre-existing NRTI resistance. At Week 24, 96.3 percent of study participants treated with Biktarvy and 94.5 percent of study participants who stayed on their baseline regimen maintained viral suppression, with no treatment-emergent resistance detected. The most common adverse events (AEs) in the study were headache, diarrhea and insomnia. Most treatment-related AEs were grade 1. AEs leading to study drug discontinuation occurred in 1.8 percent of patients receiving Biktarvy and 0 percent remaining on their baseline regimen.

In the United States, the use of Biktarvy in patients with a history of treatment failure or known resistance to any components of Biktarvy is investigational and the safety and efficacy of this use has not been determined.

Poster 2886:144-Week Efficacy and Safety Of B/F/TAF In Treatment-Naive Adults ≥50 Yrs

The double-blind Phase 3 studies 1489 and 1490 randomized 1274 treatment-naïve adults to assess the safety and efficacy of Biktarvy. Study 1489 evaluated Biktarvy compared to dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine (DTG/ABC/3TC), and study 1490 compared Biktarvy to DTG + F/TAF. Study 1489 also observed proteinuria and bone mineral density (BMD). A pooled analysis of these studies assessed efficacy, defined as the proportion of participants maintaining viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA