Gilead and Merck tout first weekly oral HIV treatment

US drugmakers Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) and Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) have announced new results from a Phase II clinical study evaluating the investigational combination of islatravir, an investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, and lenacapavir, a first-in-class HIV-1 capsid inhibitor.

These late-breaking data were presented during an oral session at ID Week 2024, taking place in Los Angeles, and virtually, from October 16-19.

The companies noted that, at 48 weeks, the novel investigational combination maintained a high rate (n=49; 94.2%) of viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) in virologically suppressed adults, a secondary endpoint of the study. Zero participants had a viral load of ≥50 copies/mL at Week 48. Week 24 results, including the study’s primary endpoint, were previously presented at the 31st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).