ViiV Expands Licensing Agreement To Allow Generic Production Of Long-Acting HIV Treatment In Low-Income Countries

Reuters (7/14, Fick) reports ViiV Healthcare “said on Monday it has expanded its licensing deal with the Medicines Patent Pool to allow generic production of its long-acting injectable HIV treatment cabotegravir.” The updated license, according to Reuters, “builds on an earlier agreement covering cabotegravir for HIV prevention” and will “enable three generic drugmakers to develop and supply the treatment for use in combination with Johnson & Johnson’s rilpivirine in 133 countries, including all low-income, lower-middle income, and Sub-Saharan African nations.” The regimen is “administered once every one or two months, an alternative to daily pills. The World Health Organization last week recommended long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine as a treatment option for people who are virologically suppressed but struggle with adherence to oral regimens.”