ViiV Healthcare () announced the European Commission has approved Tivicay (dolutegravir), an integrase inhibitor, for use in combination with other anti-retroviral medicinal products for the treatment of HIV infected adults and adolescents above 12 years of age.
The company said Tivicay will become available in each country as pricing and reimbursement processes are completed, with availability in some of the first countries anticipated in the immediate future.
Tivicay inhibits an enzyme used by the HIV virus during its replication cycle, known as integrase. By binding to the site where integrase acts, it blocks the "strand transfer" step of the HIV replication process - stopping the viral DNA from forming a new virus.
ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L, GSK) and Pfizer (PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV. Shionogi (SGIOF.PK) joined as a 10% shareholder in October 2012.
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