Gilead to Offer Free Experimental HIV Drug

Gilead Sciences Inc. said it will offer its experimental anti-HIV drug Preveon free to patients who aren’t faring well on other therapies. The so-called expanded access program has become standard in development of drugs to fight HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It allows patients to receive experimental drugs for life-threatening conditions while companies continue to study them and apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. “Currently, there is a great need for additional HIV treatments that are convenient to take and can be readily combined with other antiretroviral drugs,” said James Rooney, the company’s vice president of clinical affairs. “In making Preveon available through expanded access, patients with few alternatives will have another option.” Shares of Foster City-based Gilead rose $1.13 to close at $34.88 on Nasdaq.