The UK drug giant Glaxo Wellcome has won accelerated approval from the US Food & Drug Administration for its new HIV treatment.

The company said the drug, called Trizivir, was the first medicine to contain three antiretrovirals in one tablet and should be available in US pharmacies in December.

"The benefits of Trizivir particularly relate to its potent HIV activity in antiretroviral naive patients and its convenient dosing regimen of only one tablet twice a day, with no food or water restrictions," Glaxo said in a statement.

Glaxo's shares improved modestly following the statement, standing 12 pence or 0.6% up on the day at 2040p by 1510 GMT.

'Positive opinion'

The company said Trizivir had already been approved in Mexico and had "received a positive opinion" from the EU's Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products in July.

The drug's three active ingredients are abacavir sulphate, lamivudine and zidovudine.

Glaxo said combining the three substances in one tablet "should help people living with HIV to more easily incorporate medication into their daily routine".

The Trizivir treatment will complement a number of other Glaxo treatments for HIV - the virus that causes Aids.

Glaxo is currently merging with former UK rival SmithKline Beecham to create GlaxoSmithKline - the world's largest drug group by market share.