BMS Gets FDA Breakthrough Designation for HIV Drug

July 22, 2015

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to the investigational compound BMS-663068 when used in combination with other antiretroviral (ARV) agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in heavily treatment-experienced adult patients.

The designation is based on data from the Phase IIb clinical study comparing BMS-663068 to a boosted protease inhibitor (Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) and ritonavir) in treatment-experienced patients, with a treatment backbone across all arms of raltegravir, in addition to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, BMS says. A Phase III trial in heavily treatment-experienced patients began in February 2015 and is ongoing.

“We are now 30-plus years into the AIDS epidemic, and there is an ever-increasing number of long-term survivors of the condition, many of whom are facing issues of drug resistance and are in need of new treatment options,” said Douglas Manion, M.D., Head of Specialty Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “The Breakthrough Designation recognizes the unmet need for novel therapies for this growing group of heavily treatment-experienced patients, and is evidence of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s continued focus on meeting that need.”

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