Gilead's Viread wins EU backing for hepatitis B

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. biotechnology company Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) said on Thursday a European committee had recommended approving its Viread drug as a treatment for hepatitis B.

Viread is already approved for treating HIV/AIDS.

Based on the opinion from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, the European Commission is expected to formally authorise the marketing of Viread for chronic hepatitis B within a few months.

Gilead has also applied to sell Viread for treating hepatitis B in the United States, where a decision is expected this summer.

Chronic hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is up to 100 times more easily transmitted than HIV. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by David Holmes)