(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Friday said its majority-owned ViiV Healthcare unit received a "positive opinion" from a European health watchdog for its Vocabria HIV treatment.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, part of the European Medicines Agency, recommended marketing authorisation for the medication to treat HIV-1 in adults.
ViiV Chief Executive Officer Deborah Waterhouse said: "Today's positive CHMP opinion marks an important step in providing a new option that changes the treatment experience for people living with HIV across Europe."
Data showed Vocabria, when used in tandem with Johnson & Johnson's Rekambys injection, reduces treatment dosing days from every day of the year to just 12 or 6 per year.
"Vocabria injection used in combination with Rekambys has the potential to ease the day-to-day burden of HIV by offering significantly less frequent dosing from 365 days with oral regimens to 12 or 6 treatments per year. Through our innovative R&D, we are now one step closer to offering an HIV medicine in Europe with a novel route of administration and dosing schedule compared to other therapies. We're proud to be providing different treatment options that meet the diverse needs of the HIV community," Waterhouse added.
ViiV is majority owned by Glaxo and has Pfizer Inc among its shareholders.
GSK's stock was up 2.7% at 1,413.60 pence each in London on Friday afternoon.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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Glaxosmithkline (GSK)