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Drug manufacturers collaborate to develop single-dose daily ARV

    JOHANNESBURG

    Two drug-manufacturing firms this week launched a collaboration to develop the first single-dose daily combination antiretroviral drug to treat HIV-positive people.

    The combination pill, to be manufactured by Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb, could be approved and marketed by late 2006, the Kaisernetwork news service reported.

    The combined medication will include Bristol-Myers Squibb's Sustiva and Gilead's Viread and Emtriva. The current wholesale price of the three drugs sold separately is about US $35 a day. According to the Kaisernetwork, a single-dose pill would make it "much easier" for HIV/AIDS patients to adhere to their treatment regimen.

    Currently, antiretroviral treatment requires patients to take several pills a day, sometimes at specific times and under certain conditions, which can make it difficult for them to comply with the requirements.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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