– Week 24 Results Support Continued Development as a Potential Long-Acting Oral Combination Treatment Option in Virologically Suppressed People with HIV –– Novel Investigational Combination Regimen has the Potential to be the First Oral Weekly HIV Treatment, Helping to Address Unmet Needs –Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) and Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced results from the Phase 2 clinical study evaluating the investigational combination of islatravir, an investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, and lenacapavir, a first-in-class capsid inhibitor. These late-breaking data were presented during an oral session at the 31st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Prior to the late-breaker oral presentation, the key findings were featured in a CROI press conference.At 24 weeks, the novel investigational combination maintained a high rate (94.2%) of viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA &lt;50 copies/mL), which is a secondary endpoint of the study. Results of the primary endpoint (HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL (c/mL) showed that one participant (1.9%) treated with islatravir and lenacapavir had a viral load of &gt;50 copies/mL at Week 24; the participant later suppressed on islatravir and lenacapavir at Week 30.The potent antiviral activities, along with pharmacokinetic profiles of islatravir and lenacapavir, support their development as an investigational once-weekly oral combination regimen. Single-tablet daily oral therapies have helped to transform HIV care, but options that allow for less frequent dosing have the potential to address adherence, stigma and other challenges faced by some individuals taking daily oral antiretroviral therapy.&#34;HIV treatment is not one size fits all – developing once-weekly treatment options could help meet the needs of each individual, aiming toward maximizing long-term outcomes for people with HIV,&#34; said Jared Baeten, Vice President, MD, PhD, HIV Clinical Development, Gilead Sciences. &#34;These promising data presented at CROI help bring us one step closer to our goal of providing a wide range of options that may help transform the HIV treatment landscape.&#34;In this open-label, active-controlled study (NCT05052996), virologically suppressed adults (n=104) on Biktarvy® (bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg tablets, B/F/TAF) were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either oral islatravir 2 mg and lenacapavir 300 mg once a week (n=52) or to continue daily oral Biktarvy (n=52). The median age of participants was 40 years. Eighteen percent of participants were assigned female at birth, 50% were non-white, and 29% were Hispanic or Latinx.Results of the primary endpoint, measured as HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL (c/mL) at Week 24 per FDA Snapshot algorithm, showed that one participant (1.9%) treated with islatravir and lenacapavir had a viral load of more than 50 copies/mL at Week 24; the participant later suppressed on islatravir and lenacapavir at Week 30. No participants in the Biktarvy group had a viral load of more than 50 copies/mL at Week 24. Results of the secondary endpoint, as measured by the proportion of individuals with HIV-1 RNA &lt; 50 c/mL at Week 24, showed that participants who switched to treatment with once-weekly islatravir and lenacapavir or continued Biktarvy both maintained comparable high rates of HIV suppression at Week 24 (94.2% v. 94.2%).Grade 1 and 2 treatment-related-adverse events (TRAEs) reported in the islatravir and lenacapavir group included dry mouth and nausea (each 3.8%). No grade 1 and 2 TRAEs were reported in the Biktarvy group. No grade 3 or 4 TRAEs related to study drug in either treatment group were reported. Two participants discontinued islatravir and lenacapavir due to adverse events unrelated to the drug. In addition, no differences were seen between treatment groups for changes in CD4+ T cell counts or absolute lymphocyte counts.&#34;Our strategies for managing and treating HIV must evolve with the needs of the HIV community and we are excited to have these promising first data from the Phase 2 study for islatravir and lenacapavir presented at CROI,&#34; said Dr. Elizabeth Rhee, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. &#34;Gilead and Merck remain committed to this collaboration and to the development of a potential once-weekly oral therapy for people living with HIV who may need additional options to help maintain viral suppression.&#34;The Phase 2 study will continue in an open-label fashion through Week 48. Longer-term data will be presented at a future scientific conference.Islatravir, alone or in combination with lenacapavir, is investigational and not approved anywhere globally. The safety and efficacy of the combination of islatravir and lenacapavir have not been established.Lenacapavir, marketed as Sunlenca®, is approved in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States for the treatment of people with multi-drug resistant HIV in combination with other antiretroviral(s).Please see below for the U.S. Indication and Important Safety Information for Sunlenca. Please also see below for U.S. Indication and Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, for Biktarvy.There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS.About islatravir (MK-8591)Islatravir (MK-8591) is Merck's investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor under evaluation for the treatment of HIV-1 in combination with other antiretrovirals. For an overview of Merck's HIV treatment and prevention clinical development program, please click here.

GILD

Gilead and Merck announced Phase 2 data showing that an investigational oral once-weekly combination regimen of Islatravir and Lenacapavir maintained viral suppression at week 24 in people with HIV. This novel combination regimen has the potential to be the first oral weekly HIV treatment, addressing unmet needs for less frequent dosing. The results support continued development as a potential long-acting oral combination treatment option.

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Gilead Sciences

Merck

Gilead and Merck Announce Phase 2 Data Showing An Investigational Oral Once-Weekly Combination Regimen Of Islatravir And Lenacapavir Maintained Viral Suppression At Week 24