FDA approves daily HIV pill from Gilead designed to simplify treatment for some patients

Gilead Bixlenvo drugCourtesy: GileadThe Food and Drug Administration approved a once-daily HIV pill from Gilead that could help simplify care for some patients, the company announced Thursday. The drug, marketed as Bixlenvo, is aimed at patients whose virus is already under control but who remain on complicated treatment regimens. It could also appeal to those who simply want to switch to a new treatment alternative. The tablet combines bictegravir, the backbone of Gilead's blockbuster HIV pill Biktarvy, with lenacapavir, a first-in-class capsid inhibitor that has become a centerpiece of the company's long-term strategy for HIV treatment and prevention. The approval makes the new pill the first single-tablet regimen available for adults with HIV whose virus is suppressed but are unable to use currently available one-pill treatment options, according to Gilead. That population accounts for an estimated 5% or more of individuals in the U.S. living with HIV, the company told CNBC. The list price of the pill before discounts or rebates is $4,595 for a 30-day supply, which is in line with other daily single-tablet HIV treatments, Gilead told CNBC. People without health insurance may be ...