PHARMACEUTICAL giant GlaxoSmithKline is preparing to start human trials of an HIV cure in a groundbreaking leap which could finally rid millions of the virus.

The British drugs titan, which has a site in Ulverston, hopes to start human trials on a potential cure for the disease as soon as next summer.

The announcement comes weeks after GSK received UK approval for a separate long-lasting HIV drug, signed a £743m contract with the US for Covid treatments, and won EU backing to put its asthma jab to further uses.

A GSK spokesman said: "One of the other exciting partnerships is the unique industry/academic partnership we have with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the creation of a biotech called QURA.

"Our scientists work side by side with UNC scientists at the HIV Cure Center, in the same lab, combining their early science expertise with our drug development expertise to find a cure for HIV.

"We hope our work with them to bring a latency reversing agent into a phase 1 study start in 2022.”

According to HIV.gov, there were approximately 37.6 million people across the globe with HIV in 2020. Of these, 35.9 million were adults and 1.7 million were children.

Earlier this year, GSK announced plans to close its Ulverston site following a $350m sale to pharmaceuticals company Sandoz.

It is expected that operations at the Ulverston site will wind down in four years' time, leaving around 130 staff 'at risk of redundancy'.

At the end of this time period, GSK's proposal is to close its cephalosporin division, incorporating the whole of its Ulverston site.

A GSK spokesman said the transaction aligned with the company's strategy to 'prioritise and simplify its portfolio and invest in the company’s innovative R&D pipeline and new product launches.'

GSK has pledged land to enable Lakes BioScience to build a £350m biopharmaceutical site in Ulverston.