Gilead shares surge on Letairis approval

Shares of Gilead Sciences surged in pre-market trading in response to the news that the FDA has approved its new therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Some analysts applauded the move, noting that the approval marked Gilead's entry into the lucrative cardiovascular space. Interestingly, Gilead is taking a notably conservative approach in marketing Letairis. It will only allow someone to gain a prescription for the drug after the have taken an education course into risk factors such as liver damage and birth defects.

- see this release for more
- read the AP report