ViiV Healthcare receives approval for Triumeq™ (dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine), in Canada - a new once-daily single-pill regimen for the treatment of HIV

LAVAL, QC, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - ViiV Healthcare has received approval in Canada for Triumeq^™ (dolutegravir 50mg, abacavir 600mg, and lamivudine 300mg), indicated for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) infection in adults.¹ Triumeq^™  is ViiV Healthcare's first dolutegravir-based fixed-dose combination, offering patients living with HIV the option of a once-daily single-pill regimen  that combines the integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) Tivicay® (dolutegravir), with Kivexa® (a fixed dose combination of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) abacavir and lamivudine).

"Until we have a cure for HIV, we need new or different HIV medicines for patients.  Everyone at ViiV is very proud that we can now offer Canadian physicians and patients living with HIV the first single-pill regimen containing dolutegravir," said Gregory Reinaud, General Manager Canada, ViiV Healthcare.  "Today's approval of Triumeq^™ also demonstrates our continued commitment to developing and providing new treatment options."

About HIV

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is unlike other viruses. The human body cannot get rid of HIV, so once someone has HIV they have it for life.²

HIV infects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells or T-cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body cannot fight off infections and disease. When this happens, HIV infection leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is the final stage of HIV infection. There is no cure for HIV, but with early diagnosis and effective treatment most people with HIV will not go on to develop AIDS.3

An estimated 71,300 Canadians were living with HIV at the end of 2011, which represents an increase of 7,300 people (11%) since 2008.⁴  Although estimates of the number of new HIV infections are uncertain, the number of new infections in 2011 was estimated at 3,175 (2,250 – 4,100), which was about the same as or slightly fewer than the estimate in 2008.⁵

About Triumeq^™

Triumeq^™ is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing the INSTI dolutegravir and the NRTIs abacavir and lamivudine.  

Please refer to the full Canadian Product Monograph for full prescribing information, including contraindications, special warnings and precautions for use.

About ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV. Shionogi joined as a shareholder in October 2012. The company's aim is to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV/AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and new HIV medicines, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit www.viivhealthcare.ca. 

Triumeq^™ used under license by ViiV Healthcare ULC.

GlaxoSmithKline cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements: GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK's operations are described under Item 3.D "Risk factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2013.

References:
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¹ Triumeq^™  Canada Product Monograph
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Basics. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html 
(Accessed August 2014)
³ NHS Choices, HIV & AIDS Overview http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/HIV/Pages/Introduction.aspx 
(Accessed 18 August 2014)
⁴ Epi data is summarized in layman terms on CATIE website:
http://www.catie.ca/en/fact-sheets/epidemiology/epidemiology-hiv-canada (Accessed 16 September 2014)
⁵ Epi data is summarized in layman terms on CATIE website:
http://www.catie.ca/en/fact-sheets/epidemiology/epidemiology-hiv-canada (Accessed 16 September 2014)

SOURCE: ViiV Healthcare

Corporate Communications, GlaxoSmithKline Inc., 905-819-3363