New HIV drug Cabotegravir that can be taken as little as three times a year boosts GSK

The battle against HIV received a boost after GSK reported data showing one of its drugs can be taken as little as three times a year. ViiV Healthcare, the company’s HIV medicine arm, said a clinical trial of a new formulation of its long-acting treatment Cabotegravir had shown it could be taken ‘at least’ once every four months to provide protection against infection. Trial success: ViiV Healthcare, GSK's HIV medicine arm, said a trial of a new formulation of its treatment Cabotegravir had shown it could be taken ‘at least’ once every four months In addition to prevention, the drug can be used by those living with HIV to control the infection, and lasted longer than the current method of taking daily tablets. ‘This new formulation of Cabotegravir, with a higher concentration and at least double the half-life, puts us on the path toward delivering dosing at every four months.’ The data follows previous comments from ViiV’s chief executive Deborah Waterhouse that the company is working on a six-month jab for HIV prevention and treatment and that an annual injection, the equivalent of a flu jab, is likely to become a reality in the early 2030s.