Janssen R&D Ireland and ViiV Healthcare are working together to develop Edurant (rilpivirine) and Tivicay (dolutegravir) into a new two-drug, single-tablet regimen to treat HIV. Janssen’s Edurant is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and ViiV’s Tivicay is an integrase inhibitor. Together, they could offer an option for treating HIV with just two drugs instead of the standard minimum of three. Research of the combination treatment will begin in the coming months.

The companies will also study the pair for use in children.

“HIV remains a significant medical challenge, and our goal is to find new treatment regimens for patients,” Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer of Johnson & Johnson and worldwide chairman of Janssen, said in a release. “We are pleased to collaborate with ViiV Healthcare in pursuing this shift in the HIV treatment paradigm and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate and develop new HIV treatments and fixed-dose regimens.”

To read the press releases, click here and here.