Gilead Sciences says that the European Commission has approved Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) in all 25 European Union member states for the treatment of HIV.

The drug combines two other Gilead anti-HIV medicines – Emtriva (emtricitabine) and Viread (tenofovir) – in one tablet, which is taken once a day in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

The company first filed Truvada with the European regulators back in March last year and the scientific advisory board gave its backing to the product in November. “By combining two of the three drugs necessary for triple-drug therapy into a single once-a-day tablet, Truvada provides an important option for doctors and patients looking to construct simplified combination regimens,” said John Martin, Gilead’s president and chief executive.