GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON:GSK) has published more positive data for its two new HIV treatments ahead of tomorrow’s second quarter update.
The FTSE 100 drugmaker, along with its peers, has been looking for simpler ways to control the virus, in the hopes that fewer drugs will lead to fewer side effects.
READ: GSK sues US rival Gilead over HIV drugs
Data published today showed that its once daily, single pill treatment called Juluca was still effective almost two years after being taken for the first time.
The treeatment was approved by the Food and Drug Administration back in November for use in people who had previously been treated with a three or four drug regimen.
ViiV Healthcare, GSK’s majority-controlled HIV division, also reported the full results from the phase III trial of another two-drug HIV treatment, this time in people who have never been treated before.
GEMINI trials success
The results from the GEMINI-1 and GEMINI-2 studies confirmed that the two-drug regimen of dolutegravir and lamivudine is just as effective as the standard three-drug regimen of dolutegravir and two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
“The GEMINI studies show that we can get the efficacy of three drugs in a two-drug regimen with the tolerability and drug interaction profile of DTG and 3TC,” said principal investigator Pedro Cahn.
“The studies have the potential to expand the treatment paradigm for first-line therapy of people living with HIV.”
ViiV plans to file its regulatory submissions for the two-drug regimen later this year.
GSK shares were down 0.6% to 1,555p in late afternoon trading.