By Colin Kellaher


Gilead Sciences and Merck & Co. on Wednesday reported positive data from a Phase 2 study of a combination regimen that the companies say has the potential to be the first weekly oral HIV treatment.

The companies said study data shows the combination of Merck's islatravir and Gilead's lenacapavir maintained viral suppression at week 24, supporting continued development of the investigational regimen as a potential long-acting oral treatment option in virologically suppressed people with HIV.

Gilead and Merck said they plan to continue the Phase 2 study in an open-label fashion through 48 weeks, with longer-term data presented at a future date.

Foster City, Calif., biopharmaceutical company Gilead and Rahway, N.J., drugmaker Merck inked a deal in 2021 to co-develop and co-commercialize long-acting treatments in HIV that combine lenacapavir and islatravir into a two-drug regimen.

Gilead's lenacapavir, marketed as Sunlenca, is approved in the U.S. and dozens of countries around the world for the treatment of people with multi-drug resistant HIV in combination with other antiretrovirals. Merck's islatravir is investigational and not approved anywhere globally.


Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-06-24 1115ET