Gilead and GlaxoSmithKline to commercialize Viread for chronic hepatitis B in key Asian countries; update on Avodart

The USA's Gilead Sciences and UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline have signed a licensing agreement to commercialize the former's 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 more than 8%.

Under the deal, Gilead will retain exclusive rights for commercializing Viread for HBV in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. In China, GSK will have exclusive 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. Further financial terms were not disclosed. The companies are working to expand this agreement to include Japan and other countries.

The Viread accord modifies the terms of the April 2002 licensing agreement between the two firms 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.