FOSTER CITY, Calif. (AP) - Gilead Sciences Inc. is set to expand its reach further beyond AIDS drugs after federal regulators approved the biotech drug maker's signature anti-HIV therapy as a hepatitis B treatment.

Gilead announced Monday that the Food and Drug Administration will allow the company to market its drug Viread as a tool for supressing the chronic liver disease.

Sales of Viread as a stand-alone pill have declined in recent years following Gilead's launch of Truvada and Atripla, which combine Viread with other drugs and currently dominate the market.

The Foster City-based company sells another hepatitis B treatment, Hepsera, which reported sales of $90.4 million in the last quarter.

Gilead shares rose 94 cents, or 1.7 percent in after-hours trading to $57.37.



(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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