Agreement to develop long-acting rilpivirine as PrEP

1 October 2013. Related: HIV prevention and transmission.

On 25 September 2013, Janssen announced that it had signed a license agreement with international nonprofit health organisation PATH for early stage research to develop a long acting depot formulation of rilpivirine as a potential pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV. [1]

PATH is planning to collaborate with partners including the HIV Prevention Trials Network for future research for these initial phase 2 studies, and this initiative is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [2]

Rilpivirine is an NNRTI currently licensed as an oral drug in ARV treatment-naïve adults with a viral load less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL and is coformulated with tenofovir/FTC in the fixed dose combination Eviplera (Edurant in the US).

References:

1. Jannsen press statement. Janssen R&D Ireland announces agreement with PATH for early development of rilpivirine in long-acting formulation for potential prophylactic intervention, (25 September 2013).
2. PATH press release. New partnership advances drug formulation that could help prevent HIV infection, (25 September 2013).
   http://www.path.org/news/press-room/647