ViiV Healthcare, the specialist HIV company majority-owned by GlaxoSmithKline PLC (LON:GSK), has received marketing approval for a long-acting therapy for the condition.
ViiV’s Vocabria used in combination with Janssen Pharmaceutical’s rilpivirine injection and tablets could reduce the treatment days for HIV to once per month or even once every two months from the daily regimen used to keep the illness in check currently.
Following an oral initiation phase, the patients receive a long-acting injection – a first for people living with the virus, which damages the cells in the immune system.
“It will potentially change the treatment experience for some people living with HIV by removing the need for daily HIV tablets,” said ViiV chief executive, Deborah Waterhouse in a statement.
“We are committed to pursuing innovative research to meet the diverse needs of the HIV community, and we won't stop until we have more ways to treat, and hopefully one day cure, HIV," she added.