Gilead cancer boss departs after safety concerns halt Zydelig trials
pharmafile | March 18, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development | Gilead Sciences, zydelig
In the wake of the halting of six clinical trials of its blood cancer drug Zydelig due to safety concerns, Gilead Sciences has announced the departure of the man leading clinical development of its cancer portfolio.
Philippe Bishop, Gilead’s now former senior vice president of Hematology and Oncology Therapeutics, has left the California-based company, barely more than a year after his arrival from Genentech in December 2014.
This week it was reported that the company was halting multiple clinical trials of Zydelig (idelalisib) in newly-diagnosed leukaemia and lymphoma patients after reports of serious side effects, and several deaths among patients. Both European and US regulators are investigating the matter.
The terminated trials were all testing Zydelig in combination with other cancer drugs in treatment-naive leukaemia and lymphoma patients. Zydelig is currently indicated for patients who have relapsed after previous treatment.
Although Gilead says the departure is unrelated to the Zydelig issue, the timing raises questions among investors and places the company’s cancer hopes under additional scrutiny.
The cancer business has been seen as a source of potential strong growth for Gilead, but Bishop’s departure, which chief scientific officer Norbert Bischofberger said was by mutual consent, raises questions over its future performance.
With analysts suggesting sales of Gilead’s market-leading hepatitis C portfolio may have peaked, the company has been seeking a dependable source of growth to shore up any future decline in the performance of drugs like Solvadi and Harvoni – a possibility as additional competitors begin to hit the market.
Joel Levy
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