UK —British drugmaker GSK’s long-lasting, injectable HIV treatment, Cabenuva has shown promise as an alternative to daily pills, offering hope for people struggling with the disease’s traditional medication.
In a late-stage clinical study that compared the treatment Cabenuva to daily oral medication, it was reported that while both were effective, Cabenuva seemed to work better for patients who had trouble sticking to their daily pill routine.
This is because Cabenuva only requires two injections per month, which can be easier to manage than taking a pill every day.
This is great news for people who struggle with taking their HIV medication consistently as inconsistent medication can lead to the virus replicating again and becoming harder to control.
Cabenuva could help these patients stay healthy and prevent the virus from progressing.
While Cabenuva is currently injected by a healthcare professional, researchers are working on a self-injectable version that patients could administer at home.
They are also exploring other injection sites, like the thigh, to make the process more comfortable.
Despite promising initial results, the full analysis comparing Cabenuva to daily pills remains unavailable.
GSK intends to unveil this data at an upcoming scientific gathering, though the exact date and location are under wraps.
Developing long-acting ways of treating HIV has become a major focus in recent days in desperate efforts to manage the virus.
While the daily regimen of antiviral pills is highly effective, some people struggle to adhere to or have difficulty accessing treatment consistently.
Pharmaceutical firms like GSK are pushing into the long-acting drug space for HIV, driven by both the need to improve patient outcomes and the looming patent cliff for existing drugs.
The drug falls under GSK’s ViiV Healthcare business, in which American biopharmaceutical company Pfizer and its Japanese peer Shionogi hold small stakes.
However, strong sales of medicines for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, were one of the drivers behind the company’s performance last year, generating 6.44 billion pounds (US$8.13 billion) in annual sales and are part of a key element of CEO Emma Walmsley’s push to enhance investor confidence in the strength of GSK’s drug development pipeline.
