ViiV Healthcare announces exclusive licensing agreement with the National Institutes of Health for investigational “bNAb” with potential for long-acting HIV treatment and prevention

London, 21 November 2019 – ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by 

GSK, with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, today announced that the company will be 

developing the investigational broadly neutralising antibody (bNAb) N6LS for the treatment and 

prevention of HIV-1, as part of an exclusive licensing agreement between GSK and the National 

Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  

 

Broadly neutralising antibodies are antibodies that can recognise and block the entry of different 

strains of HIV into healthy cells. N6LS is an antiviral bNAb that works by binding to a specific site 

(gp120) on the surface of HIV that prevents its entry into uninfected immune system cells (CD4+ T

cells). By blocking HIV’s entry into human CD4+ cells, HIV replication is halted, and the HIV transmission process may be prevented.1  

 

Kimberly Smith, M.D., Head of Research & Development at ViiV Healthcare, said: “We are excited to 

advance N6LS from its current proof of concept stage to the next step in its development by studying 

this bNAb as a long-acting medicine that could potentially be used for both treatment and prevention 

of HIV.  By continuing to research new ways that people living with HIV can reach undetectable viral 

loads, we build on our ten-year history of furthering innovative science in HIV and take another 

important step forward in ending the epidemic.”  

 

ViiV Healthcare looks forward to initiating a phase IIa study with material manufactured by the NIAID 

Vaccine Research Center that will evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic 

profile of N6LS in adults living with HIV.  

 

Additional details about N6LS  

N6LS was originally discovered and developed by scientists at NIAID’s Laboratory of Immunoregulation 

and VRC. NIH and GSK entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to 

jointly identify and further develop new bNAbs such as N6LS that could serve as the next generation  

     

 

 

of treatment regimens for people living with HIV and preventative options for HIV transmission.  This 

exclusive license outlines a programme for ViiV Healthcare’s development of N6LS as well as milestone 

payments and royalties to the NIAID. 

 

About ViiV Healthcare 

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline 

(LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people 

living with HIV and for people who are at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Shionogi joined in 

October 2012. The company’s aim is to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV/AIDS than any 

company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for 

HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. 

 

For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline and commitment, please 

visit www.viivhealthcare.com.  

 

About GSK  

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel 

better, live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com. 

 

ViiV Healthcare Media enquiries:  Melinda Stubbee +1 919 491 0831  

 Audrey Abernathy +1 919 605 4521  

   

GSK Global Media enquiries: Simon Steel +44 (0) 20 8047 5502  

 

 

Analyst/Investor enquiries: 

Kristen Neese 

 

Sarah Elton-Farr 

+1 804 217 8147  

 

+44 (0) 20 8047 5194  

 Danielle Smith 

James Dodwell 

+44 (0) 20 8047 0932  

+44 (0) 20 8047 2406  

 Jeff McLaughlin +1 215 751 7002