Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline earned two victories in the ongoing battle to treat AIDS, one involving a patent settlement and the other securing FDA approval for a longer-term HIV treatment from GSK-owned ViiV Healthcare.
First, the patent.
GSK (NYSE: GSK) disclosed Tuesday it had reached a patent settlement with rival Gilead in a dispute over technology used in an HIV drug. ViiV, GSK and ViiV part-owner Shionogi had charged Gilead’s HIV drug Biktarvy infringed ViiV patents.
Gilead agreed to pay a one-time fee of $1.25 billion in the first quarter of this year plus 3% royalties. The money will be divided among ViiV’s owners, which includes Pfizer.
