HIV/AIDS Topics Antiretroviral Therapy Does Not Improve HIV-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, but High CD4 Cell Count Reduces Mortality
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 05 February 2010 13:15
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Despite the advent of combination highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), people with HIV still develop pulmonary arterial hypertension, a potentially fatal condition characterized by obstruction causing high blood pressure in the small arteries of the lungs. HAART alone did not improve pulmonary hypertension, researchers reported in the January 2, 2009 issue of AIDS, but people with higher CD4 counts had a better prognosis, underlining the benefit of starting treatment before serious immune deficiency develops.
Atripla Label Information Updated to Reflect New Efficacy, Safety, and Resistance Data in Treatment-experienced Patients
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 12 January 2010 13:15
- Written by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week that the product label information for the tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz fixed-dose combination pill Atripla will be updated to reflect new clinical trial data regarding efficacy, safety, and development of drug resistance. Overall, post-marketing data continue to show that Atripla remains safe and effective with long-term use.
Leakage of Gut Bacteria May Continue in People with Low-level HIV Despite Antiretroviral Therapy
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 08 January 2010 13:15
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Microbial translocation, or leakage of bacteria from the gut, was detected in patients who continued to show low-level HIV replication despite being on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), researchers found in a study reported in the December 2009 Journal of Clinical Virology. Released bacteria and the substances they produce can cause systematic immune activation and inflammation, contributing to problems throughout the body.
Experimental CCR5 Antagonist Vicriviroc Appears Safe and Well Tolerated in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 12 January 2010 12:46
- Written by Liz Highleyman
The investigational CCR5 antagonist vicriviroc, now undergoing clinical trials for treatment of HIV, appeared to be safe and well tolerated in a 28 day study of individuals with HIV/HCV coinfection, according to a study described in the January 1, 2010 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Vicriviroc did not affect hepatitis C virus (HCV) levels, but it also did not lower HIV viral load as intended.
Bristol-Myers-Squibb Begins Enhanced Co-Pay Assistance for Atazanavir (Reyataz) and Efavirenz (Sustiva)
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 05 January 2010 13:15
- Written by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb recently announced that it was changing its patient assistance programs for its protease inhibitor atazanavir (Reyataz) and NNRTI efavirenz (Sustiva) to eliminate a $50 co-pay. Effective January 1, 2010, the programs will now cover the full cost of private insurance out-of-pocket co-pays up to $200 per month for either drug (the Atripla efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine coformulation is not included). Individuals covered by Medicaid, Medicare, AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), or residing in Massachusetts (which has a universal health insurance program) are not eligible.
Antiretroviral Therapy Reduces Overall Mortality, but Effects Differ According to HIV Risk Group
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 08 January 2010 13:15
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Effective combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced overall mortality among people with HIV, according to data from the large HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration published in the January 2, 2010 issue of AIDS. Overall, starting treatment reduced the risk of death by about half. Those who started with a low CD4 cell count saw the largest reduction in mortality, but even those who started with more than 500 cells/mm3 had improved survival. However, the HIV-CAUSAL study and another study in Brazil both found that people who became infected with HIV via injection drug use did not benefit as much those infected through sex.
Experimental NNRTI Rilpivirine (TMC278) Shows Efficacy Comparable to Efavirenz (Sustiva) at 96 Weeks, but with Fewer Side Effects
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 08 December 2009 13:13
- Written by Liz Highleyman
According to results of a dose-ranging study published in the January 2, 2010 issue of the journal AIDS, the experimental non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor rilpivirine (aka TMC278) demonstrated potent and sustained antiviral efficacy at all doses, comparable to that of efavirenz (Sustiva) in treatment-naive HIV patients over 96 weeks. In addition, rilpivirine was associated with fewer neurological and psychiatric side effects, less skin rash, and lower lipid elevations.
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