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No, not the vitamin. Gilead Sciences Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. have put aside their scientific rivalry to collaborate on a common goal - a single pill, taken once a day, to combat the AIDS virus. The treatment isn't a new medication, but rather a combination of the three licensed AIDS drugs most commonly prescribed to newly diagnosed HIV patients; Sustiva, Viread, and Emtriva. Because the medication is merely a more convenient formulation for previously licensed drugs the companies don't expect any difficulty receiving FDA approval and are already producing test lots of the pill.

Though the medication's price has not yet been determined, the companies have stated that they are "fully committed" to offering the pill at sharply reduced prices in developing nations where the treatment will be exceptionally helpful to those unable to understand the complex drug regimens currently used. Here in the states a single prescription, rather than the common two or three, could save insured customers around $100 a month, and uninsured customers a great deal more.