Follow-up data was also reported from an important study that compared a state-of-the-art well established drug regimen to another that has more recently become available. The standard option was zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir™) with lamivudine (3TC, Epivir™) as the fixed dose combination of Combivir™ with efavirenz (Sustiva™). This regimen is simple to take as one pill in the morning and two at night and is generally well tolerated. Another combination that has more recently been used uses tenofovir DF (Viread™) with emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva™), which can now be used as fixed dose combination Truvada™ and efavirenz. This follow-up data was consistent with previous reports demonstrating that both regimens were very effective at suppressing viral load in blood; however, the tenofovir DF/FTC treated subjects had less side-effects, particularly less nausea and anemia. Although one of the concerns using this new regimen is the potential for more severe resistance developing than what is seen with the other treatment, this did not prove to be the case, as least thus far. Consequently, it is reasonable to consider either regimen, recognizing that side effect profiles may differ.
Data on an important new drug was presented at one of the closing sessions of the meeting. This medication is known as Reverset™ and is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that was previously shown to be active in the test tube against viruses that were resistant to many other related drugs. There have also been small studies with short term follow-up showing that viral load declined in those with drug resistant virus treated with Reverset™. The current study extended the previous observations showing that this drug is effective in reducing viral load in those with highly resistant virus. Further studies of this drug will certainly be reported at future meetings and there is great hope that this will prove to be an important options for many treatment experienced patients in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment