Merck's experimental HIV drug islatravir hits with a PhIII combo win and FDA filing plans

Back in March, Merck and Gilead agreed to a partnership to challenge GlaxoSmithKline on long-acting HIV meds — by combining one drug from both Merck and Gilead that had shown potential. While Gilead brought its capsid inhibitor lenacapavir, Merck brought islatravir into the deal — a small molecule that the pharma acquired in 2012 from a small Japanese firm.

While that partnership is ongoing, islatravir is coming out of 2 Phase III pivotal trials with back-to-back successes and plans to beat a quick advance to the FDA.