Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and the
Renown Institute for Health Innovation (IHI) today announced a strategic collaboration to collect and
analyze genetic and electronic health data that can enhance the understanding of nonalcoholic
steatohepatitis (NASH) and potentially inform development of treatment options for the disease.
Under the terms of the collaboration and license agreement, Gilead will provide funding to Renown IHI
to sequence and analyze the DNA of 15,000 individuals living with NASH or nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD) as well as a control cohort of 40,000 individuals in Nevada.
“Combining the sequencing of protein coding DNA, with extensive electronic health record data will
enable a deep analysis of the roles of genetics and environment in NASH incidence and progression,” said
John McHutchison, AO, MD, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development, Gilead
Sciences. “The analysis of these large datasets in collaboration with Renown IHI could help identify
genetic variants that impact the risk of developing NASH and thereby advance the discovery and
development of new treatments for this disease.”
Renown Health is Nevada’s most comprehensive and integrated healthcare network and maintains
electronic health records for 1.02 million registered patients. In 2016, Renown Health and the Desert
Research Institute established the Healthy Nevada Project (HNP), the nation’s first community-based
population health study. In 2017 HNP began a partnership with Helix to leverage its population health
services, Exome+™ sequencing, and consumer engagement tools.
The HNP is now an ongoing
collaboration between Renown IHI, the Desert Research Institute, a global leader in environmental data
and applied research, and Helix, a personal genomics company. HNP combines genetic, environmental,
social and clinical data to address individual and community health needs with the goal of improving
health across the state and the nation. The HNP currently has 40,000 participants.
“Combining genetic sequencing with large sets of data can play a critical role in understanding and
identifying serious health risks, including diseases like NASH.
We are excited to collaborate with Gilead
to better understand the condition and its complexities,” said Anthony Slonim, MD., DrPH. “Any genetic
variants identified in participants through the collaboration may be shared with the participants for patient
care purposes.”
About NASH
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic form of liver disease characterized by excess fat in the
liver, inflammation, and liver cell damage. Inflammation and liver cell damage can cause scarring of the
liver, or fibrosis, and ultimately lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. NASH is more common in people with
certain conditions, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. There are currently limited approved treatments
for patients living with NASH.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and
commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform
and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in
more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California. For more information
on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com.
About Renown Health
Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network
serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private
employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation
hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest
and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown Health’s
commitment has extended beyond traditional health care to include community health and well-being.
Renown Health works to improve health care through science, research and genetics; forge community
partnerships that improve lives and develop innovative models that are improving health care in Nevada.
For more information, visit renown.org.
About Helix
Helix’s mission is to empower every person to improve their life through DNA. Helix is accelerating the
integration of genomic data into clinical care and broadening the impact of large-scale population health
programs by providing comprehensive expertise in DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and individual
engagement. Powered by their proprietary Exome+™ assay—a panel-grade exome enhanced by more
than 300,000 informative non-coding regions—Helix offers health systems a scalable solution which
enables the discovery of medically relevant, potentially life-saving, genetic information. Additionally,
Helix offers a suite of DNA-powered products for continued individual engagement and discovery.
Helix is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and has one of the world’s largest CLIA-certified,
CAP-accredited Next Generation Sequencing labs, located in San Diego, California. Learn more at
www.helix.com.
Helix, the Helix logo, and Exome+ are trademarks of Helix Opco, LLC.
Gilead Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risk
that the parties may not realize the potential benefits of this collaboration, and Gilead may fail to
discover, develop and commercialize any product candidates for the treatment of NASH. All statements
other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements.
These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
referred to in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking
statements.
These and other risks are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2019, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking
statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation to
update any such forward-looking statements.
For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com, follow
Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000.
Additional Media Contact:
Sung Lee, Investors 650-524-7792
Arran Attridge, Media 650-425-8975
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Gilead Sciences and Renown Institute for Health Innovation Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Understanding of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)