Furthermore, GSK and Pfizer's joint venture may influence the remaining HIV players to consolidate their portfolios. One such alliance that appears to be forming is between Merck & Co and Johnson & Johnson/Tibotec. The two companies have co-operated successfully to establish the TRIO combination (Isentress, Intelence and Prezista) for treatment-experienced patients, and are currently investigating Isentress and Prezista together without the classic NRTI backbone for treatment-naive patients. If successful, this approach poses a significant threat to both Gilead and GSK, which are heavily reliant on their NRTI-based products.
