The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new HIV medication that only needs to be taken once a day. The drug, called Stribild, is a combination of four different medicines and will be prescribed to people undergoing treatment for an HIV infection for the first time.
Stribild is a combination of two previously approved medicines and two new HIV combating compounds. One of the new medicines, Elvitegravir, interferes with the production of the enzyme HIV uses to multiply. The other new chemical, Cobicistate, helps the HIV drugs stay in the system longer to prolong the effects of Elvitegravir. Stribild also uses the two drugs that are used in Truvada, which is already on the market, that work together to block the enzyme HIV needs for replication.
