ViiV Healthcare reports ‘positive’ efficacy data from Phase IIb EMBRACE study

ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK (GSK), with Pfizer (PFE) and Shionogi (SGIOY) as shareholders, announced positive 12-month interim efficacy and tolerability data from the phase IIb EMBRACE study. In adults living with HIV on stable therapy, a regimen of lotivibart, a broadly neutralising antibody, administered every four months combined with monthly intramuscular long-acting cabotegravir, maintained viral suppression in 94% of participants receiving lotivibart intravenously and 82% subcutaneously, compared with 88% in the standard of care group. These favourable data reinforce lotivibart’s ultra long-acting potential and support the progression of the study, which will evaluate a twice-yearly IV dosing interval for lotivibart, the company said. Kimberly Smith, M.D., MPH, Head of Research & Development at ViiV Healthcare, said: “These positive 12-month data from EMBRACE strengthen the evidence that lotivibart has the potential to be a part of an ultra long-acting HIV treatment regimen and support our efforts to evaluate lotivibart in a twice-yearly dosing interval. These results build on our legacy of developing innovative long-acting options for HIV treatment that offer greater choice for people living with HIV.”