ViiV Healthcare formalizes second collaboration with Janssen on HIV infection

ViiV Healthcare, a global specialist HIV company majority-owned by GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and partnered with Pfizer and Shionogi, today formalized its collaboration with Janssen Sciences Ireland.

The deal with Janssen, a subsidiary of US health care giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), is for the Phase III investigation and commercialization of the long-acting, injectable formulations of cabotegravir (ViiV) and rilpivirine (Janssen) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The long-acting formulations of cabotegravir (CAB LA) and rilpivirine (RPV LA) are being investigated as an injectable maintenance treatment for patients who have achieved viral suppression.

“As a company committed to innovation in the field of HIV, this agreement with Janssen will enable us to progress the development of the first long-acting, injectable two drug regimen,” said Dominique Limet, chief executive of ViiV Healthcare. “If successful, this regimen would offer people living with HIV who have achieved viral suppression an alternative option to the standard oral daily, three drug therapy,” he noted.