Two competing pharmaceutical companies say they are going to work together to develop the first once-a-day pill to treat HIV - the virus that causes AIDS.
Briston-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences announced Monday they will collaborate to combine three separate drugs currently on the market into a single-dose pill that will make it easier for patients to manage their medication routine.
Current treatment requires patients to take several pills a day. Missing doses makes it easier for the virus to mutate and become resistant to medication.
The companies say the planned once-a-day pill will combine Briston-Myers' drug, Sustiva, with two drugs by Gilead - Viread and Emtriva. The medicines attack the AIDS virus at different points in its replication cycle.
There is no cure for AIDS or HIV.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
