Gilead quietly stops development of certain pipeline programs

• Similar to Pfizer's (NYSE:PFE) discreet exit from developing PCSK9 inhibitor bococizumab, Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) has quietly dropped several pipeline programs.
• The first is selonsertib (GS-4997), an ASK1 inhibitor in Phase 2 development for the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis, NASH, pulmonary arterial hypertension and diabetic kidney disease. Recent tepid results from clinical studies scuppered the latter two, but development in liver disease will continue. The pursuit of an indication in Crohn's disease is also off the table.
• Another is GS-6624 (simtuzumab), targeting an enzyme called lysyl oxidase-like-2 (LOXL2), under development for the treatment of NASH and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Clinical data from three studies (two in NASH) failed to show much of an effect.
• The company has also terminated development of GS-5745, an anti-MMP9 antibody, for the treatment of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis and GS-6615 (eleclazine) for ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation.
• Simtuzumab and GS-5745 are based on Cambridge, UK-based Abzena's Composite Human Antibody technology.