The results of the SWORD 1 and 2 clinical trials presented on 3 April 2019, 25th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association (BHIVA), has helped to put to rest any doubts that a two-drug combination may lead to reduced long-term maintenance of viral suppression.

James Mather, MChem, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on Juluca’s position in the HIV market:

“The results demonstrated that Juluca maintained viral suppression for 84% of participants after 148 weeks of therapy. The two-drug therapy is attractive because it has the potential to reduce long-term drug toxicity issues arising from life-long HIV treatment and these results will bolster its position in the competitive HIV market.

“Although Juluca is only approved for HIV patients who have achieved viral suppression with another antiretroviral therapy, its positioning as a long-term maintenance therapy was reliant on evidence from the SWORD 1 and 2 studies. The positive results presented at BHIVA have only strengthened ViiV’s position in the HIV market and could push Juluca to blockbuster status within the next couple of years; forcing competitors, namely Gilead, to bolster efforts to retain market share.”