Gilead Sciences Halts Test of Bowel Disease Treatment

   By Ezequiel Minaya 
 

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) on Wednesday said it was halting clinical studies of an experimental treatment for the bowel disease ulcerative colitis following the recommendation of trial's monitoring committee.

Gilead said that based on the company's review of the data, "there is insufficient evidence of a treatment benefit" in the group of patients receiving either one or two doses of the treatment, known as GS-5745.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease linked to long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The company said there were no safety concerns noted in the monitoring committee's interim analysis. The trial was halted after treating the first 150 patients of the planned 1,600-patient trial.

Shares of Gilead slipped a nickel to $81.65 in after-hours trading.

Gilead said ongoing trials involving GS-5745 and patients with gastric cancer and Crohn's disease would continue as planned.

Write to Ezequiel Minaya at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 21, 2016 18:50 ET (22:50 GMT)

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