GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Boehringer Ingelheim announced that both companies welcome the United States' continued involvement in the global response to HIV/AIDS. GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim have entered into discussions to assess the development of co-packaging of anti-retrovirals for the treatment of HIV infection in the developing world.

"We are committed to playing an integral role in the global response to HIV/AIDS through sustainable preferential pricing, innovative partnership, community investment, and research and development of new medicines and vaccines to fight disease," said Jean-Pierre Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. "Both GSK and BI are committed to working to find solutions for easier dosing of HIV medicines, and believe co-packaging could be a useful option in treating the millions of individuals living with HIV in the developing world."

"Treatment simplification can help to optimise HIV therapy and we support this important step forward. We are ready to explore the clinical, technical and regulatory issues related to co-packaging of well-established anti-AIDS drugs together with GlaxoSmithKline," said Dr Alessandro Banchi, chairman of the board of managing directors at Boehringer Ingelheim.