New HIV Drug Approved by FDA

A new treatment for HIV has been approved by federal authorities.

The drug Descovy, which is made by Gilead Sciences, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the company announced this week.

The combination drug is a daily pill that uses two already approved drugs for the disease. The drug can be given at a lower dose compared to other treatments, including the company’s other drug Viread, because it can enter drugs more efficiently.

“As the first new HIV treatment backbone approved by the FDA in more than a decade, Descovy represents an important evolution in HIV care,” the company said in the statement. The drug has side effects like lactic acid buildup in the blood stream and aggravated prior hepatitis B infection.

The drug is estimated to reach $1 billion in sales.