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Merck to Present New Data on Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Options Across its HIV Treatment and Prevention Pipeline at AIDS 2026e
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July 15, 2026 7:00 am EDT
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Late-breaker presentations will highlight investigational, once-weekly oral combinations of islatravir with lenacapavir (Phase 3 ISL/LEN) and with ulonivirine (Phase 2b ISL+ULO) in adults with virologically-suppressed HIV-1
RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that new data from its research pipeline for HIV treatment and prevention will be presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026), taking place July 26-31, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"Building on the momentum of the recent FDA approval of IDVYNSO, AIDS 2026 is an exciting moment to showcase the next chapter of Merck's HIV pipeline – particularly our focus on the potential of once-weekly oral treatments in combination with islatravir," said Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories. "The breadth of new data spanning our daily, weekly and monthly investigational regimens developed for HIV treatment and prevention demonstrates how Merck's research is continuing to evolve with the needs of the HIV community."
Oral late-breaker presentations at AIDS 2026 by program:
Islatravir/Lenacapavir
Primary results of Week 48 efficacy and safety data from the pivotal, Phase 3 ISLEND-1 trial evaluating switch to investigational once-weekly oral islatravir and lenacapavir (ISL/LEN) compared to continuing daily regimen of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) in adults with virologically-suppressed HIV-1 (Abstract #OAB1406LB).
Primary results of Week 48 efficacy and safety data from pivotal Phase 3 ISLEND-2 trial evaluating switch to investigational once-weekly oral islatravir and lenacapavir (ISL/LEN) compared to continuing daily standard of care in adults with virologically-suppressed HIV-1 (Abstract #OAX1106LB).
Islatravir + Ulonivirine
Primary results of Week 24 efficacy and safety data from the Phase 2b MK-8591B-060 trial evaluating switch to investigational once-weekly oral islatravir and ulonivirine (ISL + ULO) compared to continuing daily BIC/FTC/TAF in adults with virologically-suppressed HIV-1 (Abstract #OAB1405LB).
Doravirine/Islatravir
Switching to doravirine/islatravir (100/0.25 mg) once-daily maintained viral suppression at Week 96 in the presence of baseline NNRTI resistance-associated mutations and/or M184I/V in proviral DNA (Abstract #OAB0105LB).
Merck symposia during AIDS 2026
Merck will host a policy symposium entitled "Access where it counts: Expanding PrEP beyond clinics" on Wednesday, July 29, from 18:00 – 19:30 (BRT/UTC-3).
Merck will also host a medical symposium entitled "Evolving standards in HIV care: Resistance, cardiometabolic health, and care for older adults" on Wednesday, July 29, from 12:00 – 13:00 (BRT/UTC-3).
Both events will be open to registered attendees, virtually and in-person.
Merck Investor Event
Merck will hold a virtual HIV Investor Event on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET, during which senior management will provide an update on the company's HIV program and strategy. Investors, analysts, members of the media, and the general public are invited to listen to a webcast of the presentation via this weblink. All participants may join the call by dialing (888) 790-1829 (U.S. and Canada Toll-Free) or (210) 839-8800 and using the access code 6773537.
About islatravir (MK-8591) and Merck's HIV research
Islatravir (MK-8591) is Merck's potent, next-generation nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor that blocks HIV-1 replication by multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of reverse transcriptase translocation, resulting in immediate chain termination, and induction of structural changes in the viral DNA (delayed chain termination). Islatravir is under evaluation in multiple ongoing early and late-stage clinical trials in combination with other antiretrovirals for potential treatments for HIV-1.
Islatravir is available in combination with Merck's s non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), doravirine, in the United States and Japan as IDVYNSO™, a new, once-daily, single-tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults to replace the current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of virologic treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to doravirine.
Islatravir continues to be studied in Phase 3 in combination with Merck's doravirine (DOR/ISL) as a once-daily pill for treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults with no prior antiviral treatment history; in combination with Gilead's lenacapavir in Phase 3 development as a novel once-weekly oral treatment for HIV-1 (ISLEND-1 [NCT06630286] and ISLEND-2 [NCT06630299]); and in combination with Merck's investigational NNRTI ulonivirine (MK-8507) in Phase 2b development (MK-8591B-060 [NCT06891066] and MK-8591B-062 [NCT07266831]) as an once-weekly oral treatment.
MK-8527 (alimatravir) is the company's investigational, novel, once-monthly oral candidate for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-1. In collaboration with the Gates Foundation, the Phase 3 EXPrESSIVE-10 trial (MK-8527-010, NCT07071623) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of MK-8527 as PrEP to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection among women and adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa. The Phase 3 EXPrESSIVE-11 trial (MK-8527-011, NCT07044297) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of MK-8527 as PrEP to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection among people likely to be exposed to HIV-1 in 16 countries. Both trials are now enrolling.
For an overview of Merck's HIV treatment and prevention clinical development program, please click here.
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