GSK's New Once-Daily HIV Drug Matches Merck Rival

GlaxoSmithKline and Shionogi’s new once-daily HIV/AIDS drug dolutegravir worked as well as rival Merck & Co’s twice-daily drug Isentress in a recent late-stage clinical trial. Both drugs are integrase inhibitors, which block HIV from entering cells.

According to GSK and Shionogi, dolutegravir showed non-inferiority to Isentress (raltegravir) when given for 48 weeks alongside two older HIV/AIDS medicines.

Dolutegravir showed a virus suppression rate of 88 percent in Phase III study participants, compared to Isentress’ rate of 85 percent. Similar tolerability was reported for both drugs.

Isentress is the only integrase inhibitor approved by regulators, although Gilead also has a candidate, elvitegravir, currently in Phase III testing.

GSK is awaiting trial results before submitting dolutegravir for regulatory approval. The drug also is being tested in this phase on other groups of patients, including those unresponsive to Isentress, as well as in combination with GSK’s Epzicom, which comprises the HIV drugs Ziagen and Epivir.

Dolutegravir’s Phase III study results are due this year, and a GSK spokesman said it could be submitted for approval before the end of 2012.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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