Rx+Research

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new, second-generation nonnuke, Tibotec's Intelence (etravirine), for use in salvage therapy. Studies have shown the drug, dosed as two tablets twice a day, is effective when started with other salvage medications or when replacing a failing nonnuke in an otherwise potent regimen. -------------------- Epzicom is now recommended as a preferred first-line therapy in federal HIV treatment guidelines, upgrading it from endorsement as an acceptable alternative first-line treatment. -------------------- Switching from another protease inhibitor to Reyataz can cut a patient's cardiovascular risks, according to a study in the January online edition of HIV Medicine. -------------------- The nonnuke Viramune significantly lowers the risk of liver damage in people coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C, says a study in the January 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. -------------------- Pfizer has licensed entry inhibitor Selzentry to the International Partnership for Microbicides, which will study ways to make the drug into a vaginal microbicide women can use to lower their risk of HIV infection. -------------------- Successful antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of lung disease and other respiratory illnesses by dramatically lowering HIV levels in the lungs, according to the January 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. -------------------- A combination of fish-oil supplements and the lipid-lowering drug Tricor better reduces triglyceride levels than either treatment alone, researchers report in the January 29 online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.