ViiV Healthcare’s HIV drug Triumeq obtains Canadian approval

ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pfizer and Shionogi, has obtained approval in Canada, for its Triumeq (dolutegravir) 50mg, abacavir 600mg, and lamivudine 300mg) to treat patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) infection.

Triumeq is a once-daily single-pill regimen, which combines the integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) dolutegravir with the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) abacavir and lamivudine.

ViiV Healthcare Canada general manager Gregory Reinaud said: “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.

“Today’s approval of Triumeq also demonstrates our continued commitment to developing and providing new treatment options.”

In September, ViiV Healthcare received marketing authorisation from the European Commission (EC) for Triumeq to treat HIV in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older, and weighing, on average, 40kg.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Triumeq in August. Dolutegravir obtained US approval in August 2013, while Europe’s approval came in January under the brand name Tivicay.