GSK's (GSK) majority-owned ViiV Healthcare said Monday it extended its voluntary licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool to cover the use of cabotegravir in a long-acting HIV treatment regimen.

The updated agreement allows existing licensees, including Aurobindo, Cipla and Viatris (VTRS), to develop, manufacture, and supply generic long-acting injectable cabotegravir for use with rilpivirine to treat HIV-1 in patients aged 12 and older weighing at least 35 kilograms, subject to regulatory approvals.

The expanded license follows updated World Health Organization guidance recommending long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine as a treatment option.

It builds on an existing agreement covering the use of cabotegravir in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and is intended to broaden access in 133 countries, including all least-developed, low-income and lower middle-income countries, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa and markets where ViiV holds no cabotegravir patents.