Gilead Sciences, Inc announced the company is stopping its ongoing phase-II clinical trial of GS 9450, an investigational caspase inhibitor, in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This decision follows reports of significant laboratory abnormalities and adverse events in a number of clinical study participants.

Patient safety is Gilead's top priority, and the company has therefore made the decision to halt this study immediately. Gilead will be conducting a thorough review of all available data to assess future clinical development of the compound.

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need.