LONDON (Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC said its joint venture ViiV Healthcare Ltd has begun a phase III clinical trial programme for the combination of dolutegravir and rilpivirine for the treatment of HIV.
Pfizer Inc and Shionogi Ltd also have interests in ViiV.
"As HIV care becomes an increasingly long term consideration, patients and clinicians are seeking to balance efficacy and side effects of treatment. We are able to attain initial viral suppression with a standard three drug regimen and the question is whether we can maintain viral suppression with two drugs instead of three," said ViiV Chief Scientific and Medical Officer John Pottage in a statement.
"An interesting part of this phase III programme is the inclusion of measures of the patient experience - we?re looking at health-related quality of life and adherence to treatment, in addition to the primary efficacy and safety endpoints," Pottage added.
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline are trading down 0.3% at 1,505.38 pence Wednesday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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