Blockbuster status predicted for co-formulation of rilpivirine and Truvada with sales of over $2 billion in the HIV Drug Market by 2018

In 2018, the fixed dose co-formulation of Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Tibotec's rilpivirine and Gilead's Truvada (tenofovir emtricitabine), will achieve blockbuster sales of more than $2 billion in the HIV drug market in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan, according to research and advisory firm Decision Resources.

The Pharmacor finding from the topic entitled Human Immunodeficiency Virus reveals that, owing to its efficacy and favorable side effect profile, rilpivirine/Truvada is expected to be a key successor to the HIV market leader - Bristol-Myers Squibb/Gilead's Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine). Interviewed experts indicate that the major drawbacks of Atripla, which generated more than $1.5 billion in sales in 2008, are the neuropsychiatric and lipid side effects of the agent's efavirenz component.

"Thought leaders we interviewed believe that, if a co-formulation of rilpivirine and Truvada shows efficacy that is at least equal to Atripla and maintains a cleaner side-effect profile, the drug will be poised to capture a significant share of early lines of therapy," said Decision Resources director Danielle Drayton. "Assuming that Tibotec and Gilead are successful in developing a fixed-dose co-formulation of rilpivirine and Truvada with a more favorable side-effect profile than that of Atripla's efavirenz component, we forecast the fixed-dose agent will become Atripla's successor and will generate blockbuster sales in 2018," she added.