Med Monitor

The Food and Drug Administration has approved dosing recommendations for Norvir in pediatric patients ages 1 month to 2 years. The recommended dosage is 350 to 400 milligrams twice daily, beginning at 250 milligrams twice per day and increased in 50-milligram increments every two to three days until full dosing levels are reached. Switching from Combivir to Truvada results in a significantly lower virus concentration after six months, according to a study by Gilead Sciences. Patients taking Truvada also experienced increased levels of hemoglobin, which is usually reduced by HIV. A study of 167 treatment-experienced HIV-positive adults has shown that Kaletra maintains durable HIV suppression and increased CD4-cell counts over four years of therapy. The study authors say their results support the use of Kaletra as part of salvage regimens. Results from a 48-week clinical trial have shown that roughly 30% of patients with drug-resistant virus achieved a decrease in HIV viral levels to below 400 copies per milliliter of blood when taking Ritonavir-boosted Aptivus, compared to almost 14% of patients taking other Ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors. Two key studies of HIV entry inhibitors have been called off because of toxicity issues and poor study results. Pharmaceutical maker GlaxoSmithKline ended Phase III trials of its experimental CCR5 inhibitor aplaviroc after three study subjects developed severe liver toxicity. Schering Plough halted its Phase II study of CCR5 inhibitor vicriviroc when study data showed early viral rebound. Tibotec Therapeutics has expanded access to its experimental protease inhibitor TMC114 after early tests showed the drug is effective against HIV that is resistant to other protease drugs. The colorectal cancer treatment Campto (irinotecan) is effective in treating Kaposi's sarcoma, according to a study that was published in the November 4 edition of the journal AIDS. Researchers found that three quarters of study subjects treated with Campto experienced complete or partial KS remission. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin used in combination with antiretroviral medications is effective in treating Kaposi's sarcoma, researchers reported in the journal Infection. Nearly 82% of study subjects reported complete or partial KS remission within a median of eight weeks of treatment.