Rx+Research

Gilead Sciences has announced that it has dosed the first patient in the Phase III clinical program evaluating 'Quad,' its investigational fixed-dose, single-tablet regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat (formerly GS 9350), emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The trial includes two studies that will evaluate the regimen versus a standard of care among treatment-naive HIV-positive adults. ---------- Critical Outcome Technologies has announced positive results from the first phase of its integrase inhibitor discovery program, in which it is exploring new methods of binding to and blocking HIV cells. The drugmaker has two more phases in its analysis. ---------- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is making funds available for a cooperative program for health departments to increase testing opportunities for populations disproportionately affected by HIV -- primarily African-American and Hispanic men and women as well as men who have sex with men and injection-drug users, regardless of race or ethnicity. Officials hope the program will increase the proportion of HIVers who are aware of their infection and are then linked to clinical services. ---------- Researchers testing the first vaginal microbicide based on an integrase inhibitor (L-870812) have found it provided monkeys with significant protection against infection with a combination simian immunodeficiency virus and HIV, according to a study reported at the International Microbicides Conference. In separate studies reported at the conference researchers found that a microbicide containing a fusion inhibitor referred to as L'644, another microbicide based on the protease inhibitor darunavir, and one formulated with maraviroc all showed early promise at preventing HIV infection. ---------- Argos Therapeutics presented data at the Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research from its Phase IIa trial of AGS-004, a dendritic cell-based immunotherapy that is matched to a patient's viral burden. Results show that personalized immunotherapy has a positive impact on the genetic diversity of residual HIV and also results in increased time to viral rebound in HIVers treated with the compound following treatment interruption.