Gilead HIV drug meets study goal

FOSTER CITY, Calif.

Gilead Sciences Inc. said Wednesday its potential HIV treatment elvitegravir met its key goals in a late-stage study.

Its shares rose 41 cents to $40.85 in morning trading.

Patients received once-daily doses of the drug candidate over a 48-week period or a twice daily dose of raltegravir, which is made by Merck & Co. under the name Isentress. Elvitegravir met the primary goal of "non-inferiority", or working as well as Isentress.