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Biotech / Medical : Gilead Science (GILD) Followers
GILD 118.33-2.7%3:59 PM EST
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To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (268)4/27/1997 12:02:00 PM
From: Rick Strange   of 961
 
There is no question that protease inhibitors have limited Visitide sales during the first quarter but there is a "bounce back" effect that may help Visitide sales in the long run. One issue is that protease inhibitors are expensive, cost can run $1,500 to $5,000 per month. These drugs don't work for an estimated 15 % to 40% of patients. Research shows that the HIV virus has the capacity to develop a resistance to the protease inhibitors over time. Finally the protease inhibitor dosing regimen is very exacting and time consuming. One drug requires exact eight hour dosing on an empty stomach. As more patients are treated with protease inhibitors, there will be more that discontinue use because of the factors discribed above, these patients become candidates for Visitide. I doubt if the effect will substantial but it will stabilize Visitide sales.

Gilead GS 840 is not prone to induce viral resistance. As stated before, 15-40% of HIV patients are currently failing combination therapy either as as a result of adverse side effects or viral resistance. GS 840 will be a much cheaper drug than protease inhibitors and the dosing regimen is simple.

Gilead's Phase III trial of GS 840 is almost fully enrolled and should be completed by the end of the year.

Back to Visitide. Gilead should get a $10million milestone payment and a $40million equity investment from Pharmacia & Upjohn this quarter for European approval of Visitide. This will raise Gilead's cash position to $240million...quite enough to bring GS 840 and PMPA to market.

Rick
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