Yuhan Corp. said Friday that it has signed an agreement with Gilead Science Korea to co-promote Biktarvy, the latter’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, from this month.

The co-promotion agreement is a strategic alliance for domestic co-marketing and marketing of Gillard's HIV treatment Biktarvy. Through these partnerships, the two companies have strengthened their HIV cooperation on Truvada, Stribild, Descovy, and Genvoya.

At the joint promotion ceremony, the two companies agreed to actively cooperate to create an environment where more patients can receive early diagnosis and treatment.

Biktarvy, approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in January, is a single, fixed-dose HIV treatment which combines Bictegravir, Emtricitabine and Tenofovir alafenamide.

Among the major components, Bictegravir is a potent second-generation integrase inhibitor, which has a high resistance barrier, while lowering the risk of resistance. Tenofovir alafenamide is also second-generation tenofovir, which changed its base significantly, reducing the toxic effects on the kidneys and bones.

The treatment also received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency in February and June of last year, respectively, and has received a recommendation as a first-line treatment for HIV patients in major countries, including the U.S.

“Biktarvy is a drug that demonstrated superior efficacy and more potent resistance barriers through five phase 3 clinical trials,” Gilead Sciences Korea CEO Lee Seung-woo said. “The company is pleased to be able to offer an innovative HIV treatment option to domestic HIV patients.”

Yuhan CEO Lee Jung-hee also said, “Yuhan and Gilead have been providing innovative new drugs such as Stribild and Genvoya to domestic HIV patients through several strategic alliances.”

The company expects that the competence and know-how accumulated through the previous agreements will be of great help for the successful launch of Biktarvy, Lee added.