Rx+Research

The FDA has approved label changes to Videx EC capsules and Videx pediatric powder to warn against combining the nucleoside analog with hepatitis medication ribavirin or with allopurinol, used to treat hyperuricemia (gout). Concurrent use of Videx and ribavirin can result in pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy, and fatal liver failure. --------------------- Switching from Kaletra to Norvir-boosted Reyataz reduces the buildup of belly fat and improves glucose metabolism, which in turn lowers diabetes risks, according to a report in the July 17 issue of the journal AIDS. --------------------- Neuropsychiatric side effects associated with the nonnuke Sustiva can be reduced by gradually building up to the full dose of the medication, according to a multicenter study reported in the July 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Stepped-up dosing did not affect viral suppression or CD4-cell rebound but did produce significantly fewer complaints of vivid dreams, depression, and other side effects among study subjects. --------------------- A study of Selzentry among HIVers with viral strains that do not use the CCR5 cellular portals has shown that it was no more effective than a placebo in preventing HIV from attaching to and penetrating immune system cells. Researchers, reporting in the June 1 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, had hoped the drug would somewhat reduce viral loads among people with virus that uses both CCR5 and CXCR4 cellular receptors. --------------------- KP-1461, an investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in development by Koronis Pharmaceuticals, has been shown in Phase Ib and Phase IIa human studies to force HIV to rapidly mutate to the point that it is noninfectious, a phenomenon known as "terminal mutagenesis" or "error catastrophe." Additional clinical studies are planned. --------------------- Isentress, an orally administered integrase inhibitor, is an effective substitute for the more expensive, injectable fusion inhibitor Fuzeon, according to a study in the May 28 edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. More than 94% of the patients who switched medications achieved undetectable viral loads and posted a median CD4-cell increase of 32 after the change. --------------------- Treatment-experienced HIVers on a failing regimen can consider switching to a salvage combination based on Norvir-boosted Prezista, Isentress, or both, according to a study in the May 29 edition of the journal AIDS. It showed that 65% of people changing regimens that contained one or both of the medications achieved an undetectable viral load within 24 weeks. --------------------- Switching from a stable antiretroviral regimen to single-pill therapy with Atripla does not jeopardize viral control, researchers write in the June edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. An analysis of 300 HIVers, two thirds of whom were switched to Atripla, has shown that 89% of the Atripla users and 88% of those who did not change treatment maintained viral levels below 200 after 47 weeks.