Big Pharma, US Research Pacts in Flux After Gilead’s Trial Win

Gilead Sciences Inc.'s victory in a rare patent-infringement case brought by the federal government, a former research partner, has pharmaceutical industry insiders and healthcare advocates split on whether and how the fallout might affect such collaborations moving forward.

A Delaware federal jury last week voided three government-owned patents covering a two-drug regimen for HIV known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. It also found that Gilead’s Truvada and Descovy for PrEP wouldn’t have infringed the patents even if they were valid.

The verdict marked a thorough success for Gilead and saved it from as much as $1 billion in potential royalties. ...