GlaxoSmithKline Launches Specialist HIV Company

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer (PFE) said Tuesday they have launched ViiV Healthcare, a new specialist company dedicated to delivering advances in HIV treatment and care.

MAIN FACTS:

-To tackle increasingly diverse and complex needs of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

-Strong focus on stimulating research and development

-ViiV Healthcare has 10 medicines currently available including therapies such as Epzicom/Kivexa (abacavir sulfate+lamivudine) and Selzentry/Celsentri (maraviroc).

-Revenues from these available treatments generated sales of GBP1.6 billion in 2008.

-ViiV Healthcare has financial stability to support sustained investment in its pipeline and programmes.

-ViiV will pursue multiple strategies to develop this existing business and to deliver new growth opportunities, including geographic expansion, new collaborations and business development activities.

-Also has a pipeline of seven innovative and targeted medicines, including five compounds in phase II development.

-Altogether, ViiV Healthcare has 17 molecules in its portfolio to develop as potential new HIV treatments.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

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