New HIV drug Cabotegravir that can be taken as little as three times a year boosts GSK

The battle against HIV received a boost after GSK reported data showing one of its drugs can be taken as few as three times a year.

ViiV Healthcare, the company’s HIV medicine arm, said a clinical trial of a new formulation of its long-acting treatment Cabotegravir had shown it could be taken “at least” once every four months to provide protection against infection. .

This is in stark contrast to most HIV prevention treatments, which require users to take pills every day to protect themselves from the virus.

It is also longer than the two-month interval that GSK recommends for Cabotegravir.

The firm said it plans to begin large-scale testing of the new formula later this year with the goal of bringing it to market in 2026.

In addition to prevention, people living with HIV can use the medication to control the infection and it lasted longer than the current method of taking daily tablets.

GSK said it aims to allow the use of Cabotegravir for HIV treatment by 2027.

Kimberly Smith, head of research at ViiV, said: “The HIV community has expressed their desire for longer-acting medications that can help ease the burden of daily treatment.

“This new formulation of Cabotegravir, with a higher concentration and at least double the half-life, puts us on the path to dosing every four months.”

The data follows earlier comments by ViiV CEO Deborah Waterhouse that the company is working on a six-month shot for HIV prevention and treatment and that an annual shot, the equivalent of a vaccine, is likely. against the flu, become a reality in the early 2030s. .

ViiV is majority owned by GSK, but rival Pfizer and Japan’s Shionogi have stakes in the business.

Ultra-long-acting HIV treatments are a key element in GSK’s bid to reach more than £38 billion in sales by 2031.

Last year, HIV treatments generated sales of £6.4bn for GSK, around 21 per cent of its total revenue of £30.3bn.

GSK Share increased 0.4 percent.