Can you introduce ViiV Healthcare and its operations?
ViiV Healthcare is the only global pharmaceutical company entirely dedicated to HIV, with a presence worldwide, including Canada, where ~63,000 people live with HIV. Our mission is to leave no person living with HIV behind, and we won’t stop until HIV/AIDS is not. By integrating science, technology, and people, we aim to get ahead of HIV and end the epidemic altogether. Our focus is singular and driven by the goal to make HIV and AIDS a smaller part of people’s lives.
What progress has been made in the fight against HIV, and how disruptive is the virus today?
Significant advancements have been achieved in HIV treatment and prevention in the past 40 years, transforming HIV from a deadly disease to a manageable condition.
Thanks to tremendous efforts in research and development, we now live in a world where a person living with HIV and on effective treatment can expect to live a long and fulfilling life. Through its legacy of companies, ViiV Healthcare has always been on the cutting edge of innovation and more recently has introduced various new regimens, including the first integrase inhibitor of second generation and the first once-daily two-drug regimens in single tablets. Despite these breakthroughs, challenges remain, including combating stigma and discrimination, which hinder treatment adherence and testing. Taking these challenges in consideration, ViiV Healthcare has developed the first long-acting injectable treatment, as an option to those who prefer to not be on daily oral antiretrovirals.
Can you discuss the stigma still attached to HIV and how far we have progressed in addressing it?
While perceptions of HIV have evolved over the last 40 years, significant stigma and discrimination persist, impacting individuals' willingness to seek treatment or testing. This stigma manifests in both self-imposed and societal forms, with misconceptions about transmission still prevalent. Educating the public remains a critical challenge in our fight against HIV, as stigma continues to be a major barrier to achieving our objective of ending the HIV epidemic.
What are the main challenges in the fight against HIV, and how is ViiV Healthcare addressing them?
The challenges in combating HIV can be viewed through the lenses of people living with HIV and through the lenses of the overall healthcare environment. Key issues include addressing the long-term physical and emotional effects of taking lifelong medication, combating stigma, and ensuring equitable access to innovative treatments. In Canada, despite the availability of antiretrovirals, HIV diagnoses increased by ~25% in 2022, indicating a need for continued focus on prevention and treatment. ViiV Healthcare is actively collaborating with communities to develop and support tailored programs, working with regulatory partners on new options, and striving to standardize care across different jurisdictions.
How is ViiV Healthcare working to address the needs of disproportionately affected populations?
At ViiV Healthcare, we are committed to ending the epidemic, and we won’t stop until HIV and AIDS are not. Until then, we will continue to listen to the communities that are disproportionately impacted by HIV and will challenge the status quo by researching and developing innovative medicines that address tangible unmet needs whilst making HIV a smaller part of people’s lives. That’s our noble mission and purpose, and that’s why we are here.
