Janssen R&D Ireland and ViiV Healthcare are joining forces to develop the antiretrovirals Edurant (rilpivirine) and Tivicay (dolutegravir) into a new two-drug, single-tablet regimen to treat HIV.

Janssen’s Edurant is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and ViiV’s Tivicay is an integrase inhibitor. Together they could offer an option for treating HIV with just two drugs instead of the standard minimum of three. Research of the combination treatment begins this fall.

The companies will also study the pair for use in children.

“I’m excited about this combination as it offers patients with HIV more diverse and safe options for treating their HIV,” says Antonio E. Urbina, MD, associate medical director at the Spencer Cox Center for Health in New York City. “Both rilpivirine and dolutegravir are well tolerated, have a favorable lipid profile, and [if] combined would be a great single table regimen that could be dosed once daily.”