Tibotec and Gilead have agreed to work towards another 3 drug combo bill, in addition to the existing Atripla
As the article mentions, Gilead's contribution is Truvada, a 2 drug combo pill, which contains emtricitabine or FTC.
Use of FTC generates kills normal hiv, but does not kill well a common hiv mutation, called m184v, which then increases the hiv load in those patients (i.e. pts)
Avexa's Apricitabine or ATC retains most of its activity against the m184v virus which is often abundant in those who have failed a FTC or 3TC regimen.
As well as efficacy, ATC also appears to be very safe (unlike some other nrti options) and have a high barrier to the creation of any other mutations. ATC appears to maintain m184v at a very low level, cause of its efficacy and the known low level of fitness/replication of the m184v hiv. M184v is maintained (which is good) and no new mutations arrive.
Although my comment was slightly tongue in cheek, the Tibotec/Gilead deal appears to commit them to 2-5 yrs of further development to a 3 drug combo pill that continues to push FTC. In other words, FTC and its creation of m184v will continue to be a major part of hiv treatment for years to come, leading to a ongoing high need/big market for ATC.
It also emphasises that the best deal that Avexa will get with big pharma will probably be related to who wants ATC most in their future combo pill.
Merck, Tibotec, gsk/gilead...
Hope the comments help.
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