GSK’s HIV drug combivir to face generic from Teva

GlaxoSmithKline‘s (NYSE:GSK) HIV treatment combivir will soon face its first competition from a generic drug.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NASDAQ:TEVA) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval on its application to market a generic version of combivir. Combivir is a combination drug that pairs azidothymidine, also known as AZT, with another antiviral, lamivudine. The combination improved the effectiveness of the treatment and upon receiving FDA approval in 1997, it became the first combination therapy made available for HIV-infected patients.

Combivir now falls under the umbrella of ViiV Healthcare, a company formed jointly by GSK and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) in 2009 to market HIV drugs and develop new HIV treatments. The independent company is based in London with U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Including combivir, ViiV maintains a portfolio of 10 HIV drugs that generate annual sales of more than $2 billion. Combivir generates approximately $315 million in U.S. sales, according to IMS Health. ViiV’s drug pipeline includes six compounds in various stages of clinical development, some of them are compounds licensed from drug partners.

Teva said that its generic version of the drug is expected to be available in the fourth quarter under a settlement with GSK and ViiV. As the first company to file its application for a generic, Teva is eligible for a 180-day period of marketing exclusivity.