Innovation and Patent Details
FTC and 3TC are used as part of the treatment plan for most HIV/AIDS sufferers and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of either 3TC or FTC as part of a first-line treatment regimen. These drugs are part of a class known as NRTIs (Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors) that help prevent or delay the HIV virus from replicating and infecting other cells. In combination with other HIV treatment drugs, they help reduce drug-resistance, bolster the body's immune activity and can help slow the rate of other infections that prey on the immune deficient.
Invention/Innovation Name
- 3TC (lamivudine) - marketed as Epivir®, Epivir HBV®
- FTC (emtricitabine) - marketed as Emtriva®
Institution Where Invention/Innovation Developed
Name(s) of Inventor(s)/Innovator(s) – Title – Advanced Degrees Held
- Dennis Liotta, Ph.D.: Department of Chemistry, Chair; Vice President for Research, Emory University
- Raymond Schinazi, Ph.D.: Professor of Pediatrics and Chemistry; Director, Emory University Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics
- Woo-Baeg Choi, Ph.D.: Post-Doctorate Researcher, Emory University (at time of patent); Founder, FOB Synthesis (current)
Revenue Generated (if applicable)
- FTC: Gilead has seen combined revenues from the individual sale of Emtriva® and the sale of Truvada® (a fixed dose combination of Emtriva® and Viread®) of over $3 billion since it acquired the license to Emtriva® as part of its acquisition of Triangle Pharmaceuticals.
- 3TC: Glaxo SmithKline has seen revenues for Epivir® grow from $315 million in 1996 to nearly quadruple that a decade later resulting in annual sales in excess of $1.1 billion.
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