A New Once-Daily Pill to Treat HIV Just Got the FDA’s Green Light

This story originally appeared on The Advocate.On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it has approved a new once-daily, single-pill HIV treatment, according to a report by CNBC.The new pill, called Bixlenvo and created by Gilead Sciences, is an especially exciting development for people living with HIV because it provides them with another treatment option that contains a minimal amount of drugs. It combines bictegravir, the active ingredient in Gilead’s super successful HIV treatment Biktarvy, with lenacapavir, a capsid inhibitor that has become a key component in Gilead’s HIV treatment and prevention methods. The new treatment is aimed at individuals whose HIV is already under control but who are still dealing with complicated treatment regimens. The FDA’s approval makes it the first single-pill regimen available for HIV+ adults whose virus is suppressed but who, for various reasons, are unable to use any of the single-pill treatments currently on the market, as noted in Gilead’s announcement. This represents about five percent of people living with HIV in the U.S.This group is mostly comprised of older individuals with long treatment histories, says Dr. Jared Baeten, Gilead’s clinical development and virology therapeutic area head. He notes that many of these people “had to take handfuls of pills around 25 years ago,” in addition to the fact that HIV can accelerate other complications of aging, like heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.“It fulfills an unmet need, particularly for individuals who are on complex regimens who just would not otherwise consolidate down to something really meaningful for them and prescribers,” Baeten told CNBC. “But it’s also meaningful for individuals who are seeking options for something new,” he added, commenting on its viability as a treatment option for others outside of this demographic. “We want to build options that give people the opportunity to choose something that’s goin