ViiV Healthcare's two drug HIV therapy beats Gilead's three drug treatment in Phase 3 trial

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline’s HIV company, ViiV Healthcare, has said its two-drug combo Dovato (dolutegravir and lamuvidine) met its primary endpoint of maintaining viral suppression for 48 weeks in patients who had switched from a three drug cocktail made by Gilead.

Dovato proved successful in supressing HIV for 48 weeks in patients who had previously maintained viral suppression on Gilead’s TAF-containing regimen. Additionally, ViiV said patients did not develop resistance to Dovato.

Dr Kimberly Smith, Head of Global Research & Medical Strategy at ViiV Healthcare, commented: “When we developed the TANGO study, we asked if virally suppressed people living with HIV could reduce the number of medicines in their HIV treatment regimen while maintaining viral suppression. These Week 48 data clearly indicate that they can – individuals who are already on treatment can maintain viral suppression if they switch from a 3-drug, TAF-containing regimen to a 2-drug regimen of dolutegravir plus lamivudine.”

The Phase 3 success bolsters GSK’s position as a major player in HIV as the British firm seeks to challenge Gilead in treating the virus that causes AIDS. The UK multinational also has a monthly injectable two drug treatment in the works. ViiV accounted for around 39% of the GSK group’s profits in 2018.

Louis Goss