Drug Potency

Drug Potency
Drug potency is becoming more important in the fight against resistance. A French study in 1998 looked at how well patients took their medicines and measured drug levels in the blood. While mutations attributed to resistance were noted, the researchers found that drug potency played a larger role in treatment failure and HIV rebound. This finding was confirmed with a similar study in the United States where it was determined that drug levels in the blood were a more important factor in fighting resistance.

What's Being Done?
Research has found that certain HIV drugs work better and are more potent when combined with one another. The protease inhibitor Norvir, once a backbone drug in many regimens, is now used in much lower doses to boost the effect and potency of other protease inhibitors. Invirase, another protease inhibitor is being studied to do the same thing. Improving potency is key in the durability and efficacy of an HIV regimen.

So the fight continues. When it seems a battle is won, you don't have to look far to find a battle being lost. But continued research and development is providing us with the weapons to win this fight.