A new once-daily pill for HIV treatment is coming to the market, giving some people living with HIV another option for managing the virus with a single tablet.
Called Bixlenvo, the new medication from Gilead Sciences combines two drugs, lenacapavir and bictegravir, into one once-daily tablet. Gilead describes it as the smallest single-tablet regimen, or STR, currently available for most people who need a treatment option beyond existing one-pill regimens.
The important part is who this new pill is designed for.
READ: Long-Acting HIV Treatments: Fewer Pills, More Freedom?
Who Is Bixlenvo For?
Bixlenvo is intended for adults living with HIV whose virus is already virologically suppressed, meaning treatment has brought the viral load down in their blood down to a level that standard tests cannot detect.
However, some people who have their HIV under control cannot use currently available single-tablet treatment options because of their individual treatment history or other medical considerations.
According to Gilead, that group represents an estimated 5% or more of people living with HIV in the United States.
The new pill could also appeal to people who are doing well on their current treatment but would prefer to switch to another option.
What Is Inside the Pill?
Bixlenvo combines bictegravir, which is already a familiar part of Gilead’s Biktarvy treatment, with lenacapavir. Lenacapavir belongs to a newer class of anti-viral medicines called capsid inhibitors. Rather than replacing Biktarvy, Gilead says Bixlenvo is intended to expand the choices available to people receiving HIV treatment.
That distinction matters.
For someone who is already doing well on Biktarvy, there may not be an urgent medical reason to switch. Gilead’s Jeffrey Baeten emphasized in an interview with CNBC that treatment to the disease is highly individualized, and the best long-term regimen can depend on a person’s medical needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
In other words, more options do not necessarily mean everyone needs a new option.
What Will It Cost?
The price of the treatment regimen before discounts and rebates is $4,595 for a 30-day supply, which Gilead says is in line with other daily single-tablet HIV treatments. The actual amount a patient pays can be very different depending on insurance and assistance programs.
People without health insurance may qualify for Gilead’s patient assistance program, potentially allowing eligible patients to receive Bixlenvo at no cost. People with commercial or private insurance may also qualify for copay assistance through a separate savings program.
More Choices, Not a Cure
It is important to remember what Bixlenvo does and does not represent.
There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS. Modern HIV treatment, however, can suppress the virus and help people living with HIV maintain their health. For those who need or want another treatment option, Bixlenvo represents another development in an increasingly individualized approach to HIV care. And sometimes, progress in medicine is not about finding one treatment that works for everyone.
It is about making sure more people can find the treatment that works best for them.
Know your options. Be informed. Consult your physician.