Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the company, for strategic reasons, is ending its licensing agreement with Emory University and the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. for the development and commercialization of amdoxovir. Also known as DAPD, amdoxovir is an investigational guanosine nucleoside analogue currently in Phase II development for the treatment of HIV. Amdoxovir has also been tested in humans for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection and is currently in Phase II clinical trials under a US IND. Gilead will meet its ongoing obligations with respect to existing clinical trials and is committed to cooperating with the universities during the transition of this technology to a new licensee.

In March 1996, Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. entered into a licensing agreement with Emory University and the University of Georgia Research Foundation for worldwide rights to amdoxovir. In January 2003, Gilead acquired Triangle Pharmaceuticals. In accordance with the licensing agreement, Gilead will transfer toxicity, efficacy and other data including the IND to the universities.

"Gilead remains committed to developing novel compounds to fight HIV," said John Martin, PhD, president and CEO of Gilead Sciences. "We continue to focus resources on the development of other promising candidates in our pipeline, including the co-formulation of Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and Emtriva (emtricitabine) into a single fixed-dose combination tablet, and two investigational agents, GS 7340, an amidate prodrug of tenofovir, and GS 9005, a protease inhibitor."

"Amdoxovir has great potential for salvage therapy in HIV infected individuals," said Mary Severson, chief technology officer at Emory University. "Emory and the University of Georgia Research Foundation are committed to the continued development of this drug and the ongoing NIH-sponsored clinical trials ACTG 5118 and ACTG 5165."