GSK and Pfizer join forces to fight HIV

Two of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms have joined together in the fight against HIV.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer have formed the specialist HIV treatment firm ViiV Healthcare.

The company, which aims to help tackle HIV and Aids worldwide, will offer ten products, including Selzentry/Celsentri and Epzicom/Kivexa.

Last year, the pharmaceutical firm's generated £1.6 billion from the sale of the ten products offered through ViiV Healthcare.

Dr Dominique Limet, chief executive officer for ViiV Healthcare, said: "Rising infection rates and increasingly complex treatment issues have created a challenging landscape in the treatment of HIV and the need for innovative research and better patient resources."

The firm will be 85 per cent owned by GSK and 15 per cent owned by Pfizer.

GSK is currently working on a possible vaccine for malaria.

Last week the firm said that if the treatment proves to be effective, price will not be a barrier to its availability.

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