Gilead and GlaxoSmithKline Divvy Up Commercialization of Viread® for HBV in Key Asian Countries

Gilead Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline inked a licensing agreement to commercialize Viread® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection in adults in five countries in Asia. The companies’ combined commercialization activities will expand access to Viread for the treatment of HBV, once approved, to patients in Asia where the prevalence in most countries is greater than 8%.

Gilead will retain exclusive rights for commercialization of Viread for HBV in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. In China, GSK will have exclusive commercialization rights and registration responsibilities for Viread for HBV. Each company will pay royalties to the other on sales of Viread for HBV in their respective Asian territories. The companies are working to expand this agreement to include Japan and other countries.

The Viread agreement modifies the terms of the April 2002 licensing agreement between Gilead and GSK under which GSK received exclusive rights to Hepsera® (adefovir dipivoxil), Gilead’s first hepatitis B treatment, in various territories including China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as the right to commercialize Viread for the treatment of HBV under certain circumstances.

Viread is currently approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in the United States, European Union, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Viread is also indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in adults.