Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Possible TMC278 Achilles heel—from GILD’s 2Q10 CC:

Although the actual data from the two phase-3 trials testing TMC278 vs Sustiva are embargoed until the presentation at the International AIDS Society conference two days from now, JNJ’s abstract showed that the TMC278 arms had a combined 2x higher rate of virologic failure* than the Sustiva (Atripla) arms at 48 weeks.

In what sounded to me like spin, GILD’s CSO, Norbert Bischofberger, downplayed the relevance of the above virologic-failure comparison. Bischofberger said the higher rate of virologic failure in the TMC278 arms was likely an anomaly that will disappear at 96 weeks, which is what happened in the phase-2 trial of TMC278 vs Sustiva.

Stay tuned!

*Virologic failure is a composite of inadequate initial response and viral breakthrough.