AHF Lauds FDA Approval of Once-a-Day, 3 in 1 Combination Anti-Retroviral Pill

LOS ANGELES, July 12 /PRNewswire/ — AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) the largest US-based AIDS organization with free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean — today lauded US officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approving a new once-a-day combination of anti-retroviral medications that combines three AIDS drugs — made by two different drug companies: Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead — into one, once-a-day tablet. This is the first-ever FDA approval of an AIDS drug treatment regimen that combines lifesaving anti-AIDS drugs from two different companies, and AIDS advocates hailed the approval as a potential boon for improved patient adherence to their drug regimens as well a its potential role in AIDS treatment worldwide.

“We thank the FDA for its historic approval earlier today of this new all-in-one AIDS drug treatment regimen. This joint venture between Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb is a milestone in the advancement of AIDS treatment and it also now sets a new, high watermark as an example of corporate — and community-minded — cooperation,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “We salute both Gilead and BMS for this unique partnership and achievement, and hope this collaboration may serve as an example to other companies involved in the fight against AIDS. This new combined all-in-one AIDS treatment regimen will greatly reduce pill burden — the number of pills an individual must take to control his or her HIV disease — so it should greatly enhance patient adherence and compliance. It is our hope that this all-in-one regimen can also be quickly approved for, and utilized in many global AIDS treatment programs around the world.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

CONTACT: Ged Kenslea, AHF Communication Director, +1-323-860-5225