Norvir/Invirase Go Head-to-Head with Kaletra
Early results from a 48-week clinical trial comparing Norvir (ritonavir)-boosted Invirase (saquinavir) to Kaletra (lopinavir plus ritonavir) suggest that both options are working similarly well in patients starting therapy for the first time, although the rate of virologic failure has thus far been higher in the Norvir/Invirase group.
Starting or Switching: Truvada Outpaces Combivir in Studies Researchers have reported extended follow-up data from a clinical trial comparing two pairs of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), both combined with Sustiva (efavirenz): once-daily Truvada (tenofovir plus lamivudine) plus Emtriva (emtricitabine) versus Combivir (zidovudine plus lamivudine).
Is HIV Treatment Actually Reducing Heart Attack Risk? New study data reported at the fourth IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention indicates that HIV treatment—despite its often negative effects on blood lipid levels—may actually reverse artery hardening that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Sustiva Edges Out Celsentri in Treatment Newbies
A clinical trial has found that Pfizer's CCR5-blocking entry inhibitor, Celsentri (maraviroc), when used by patients starting HIV treatment for the first time, appears somewhat inferior to standard-of-care Sustiva (efavirenz).
Simple Test Can Help Prevent Abacavir Allergy A clinical trial has confirmed that a simple lab test for a human gene can help prevent a serious allergic reaction caused by abacavir, the active ingredient in Ziagen and a component of Epzicom (Kivexa) and Trizivir.
High Risk of Kidney Problems in HIV
There is a high rate of kidney problems in HIV-positive patients, according to a French study reported at the fourth IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, in Sydney.
Pipeline Preview: All The New AIDS Drugs Coming Soon Peter Staley reviews all the new experimental AIDS drugs with Dr. Joe Eron, including two non-nukes, and two new classes of drugs: CCR5 and integrase inhibitors.
Simple Test Eliminates Abacavir Risk Peter Staley asks Professor Simon Mallal from the Royal Perth Hospital about a simple new genetic test that accurately predicts if a patient is at risk for an allergic reaction to abacavir (Ziagen).
July 24, 2007
Are We Starting Treatment Early Enough? In this videocast, Dr. Fred Gordin explains why many experts think we might be waiting too long to put patients on HIV treatment.
Rilpivirine (TMC-278) Has Metabolic Edge Over Sustiva Additional side-effect data from a clinical trial of rilpivirine (TMC-278) indicates that it causes minimal changes in lipid (fat) and glucose (sugar) levels over 48 weeks of treatment.
Vicriviroc Shows Benefits, Continues Development
The AIDS Clinical Trials Group has reported additional data from a clinical trial of vicriviroc, Schering-Plough’s experimental entry inhibitor currently in the Phase II stage of development.
A Positive Papua New Guinean Speaks Out Against Stigma Regan Hofmann interviews Maura Elaripe Mea, the first HIV-positive woman to come forward publicly in her country. Through Igat Hope, the national network of people living with HIV/AIDS in PNG, Maura and others fight AIDS discrimination while spreading information and hope.
The Latest on Lipo: Advances & Setbacks Dr. Don Kotler discusses the latest from Sydney, both good and bad, on lipodystrophy treatments and cardiovascular risk in people with HIV.
Which HIV Meds Cause Lipoatrophy? In this videocast, Dr. Eric Daar provides an overview of which nukes, non-nukes, and protease inhibitors might cause fat loss, and which ones probably won't.
July 23, 2007
Crystal Meth Linked to Lower CD4s in Positive People
HIV-positive people using crystal methamphetamine have lower CD4 cell counts than their HIV-positive counterparts who don’t use the drug, according to new data reported at the IAC Conference in Sydney.
Timed Intercourse Plus PrEP for Low-Risk Natural Conception
HIV-negative women who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) immediately prior to engaging in carefully timed sexual intercourse with their antiretroviral-treated HIV-positive male partners may further reduce their already low risk of being exposed to the virus.
Celsentri (Maraviroc) Interaction Warning Based on a recent drug interaction study, Pfizer is warning that the dose of Celsentri (maraviroc) needs to be altered if the drug is combined with Tibotec’s etravirine and/or Prezista.
AIDS Down Under: IAS Conference Begins in Sydney
The IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment
and Prevention began with calls
for even greater vigilance to ensure universal access to HIV prevention
and treatment, along with an expansion of research to inform and
strengthen the global response to HIV.
Fauci Defends Bush's AIDS Legacy Peter Staley interviews Tony Fauci about his research on HIV "eradication," President Bush's AIDS legacy, why he likes gay men and Republicans, and that letter he wrote supporting Scooter Libby.
July 20, 2007
No Lipodystrophy Approval for Serostim The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined this week to approve EMD Serono’s Serostim for the treatment of HIV-associated adipose redistribution syndrome (HARS)—the accumulation of fat associated with lipodystrophy. As a result, patient access to the drug for HARS will likely be difficult to secure.
July 19, 2007
Tenofovir's Long-Term Safety Profile
A certain degree of renal toxicity is apparent in a few HIV patients
receiving therapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, but overall the
drug appears to be safe, according to a new study.
July 16, 2007
Despite Flu Shot, Flu Often Occurs in HIV Fever and respiratory tract symptoms, very common clinical problems in HIV patients, are frequently caused by influenza virus infection, Canadian researchers report in the July 15th issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
July 13, 2007
Zetia Helps Lower Lipid Lipids in HIV When added to maximally tolerated lipid lowering therapy in patients with HIV dyslipidemia, ezetimibe helps further lower lipids, according to a new study.
July 12, 2007
New Method Identifies Rare Resistance Mutations A new method that combines DNA bar coding and pyrosequencing can identify multiple rare HIV drug resistance mutations in a single test, according to a report in the June 18th Nucleic Acids Research.
July 11, 2007
HIV Treatment Boosts Birth Rate Compared with the live birth rate in HIV-infected women before the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the rate in the HAART era has increased 150%, investigators with the Women's Interagency HIV Study report in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
July 09, 2007
HIV Increases Lung Cancer Risk
Independent of smoking, HIV infection is associated with an elevated
risk for developing lung cancer, according to a report in the July 1st
Clinical Infectious Diseases.
July 06, 2007
Prezista/Norvir Bests Kaletra in Treatment-Experienced Patients Results from a Phase III clinical trial indicate that Prezista (darunavir) plus Norvir (ritonavir) is more effective than Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) in treatment-experienced HIV-positive patients.
Dynamic Duo Etravirine and Prezista Shine in Studies Data from two ongoing Phase III studies indicate that Tibotec's experimental non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) etravirine (TMC-125), combined with their approved protease inhibitor (PI) Prezista (darunavir), packs a powerful antiviral punch in HIV-positive patients with documented NNRTI and PI resistance.
July 05, 2007
Children's Sustiva Dose May Need to be Upped In developing countries where therapeutic drug level monitoring is not readily available, HIV-infected children taking efavirenz are likely to be undertreated, according to a research team in South Africa.
July 02, 2007
HIV Treatment Increases Risk of Diabetes Patients with HIV infection on most highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens have an increased incidence of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus, the latest findings of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study show.
More Treatment News
Have news about HIV? Send press releases, news tips and other announcements to news@poz.com.
Regan Hofmann talks with Dr. Nancy Padian about PrEP, microbicides, and circumcision, and asks "when can my boyfriend and I stop using condoms."
Peter Staley reviews all the new experimental AIDS drugs with Dr. Joe Eron, including two non-nukes, and two new classes of drugs: CCR5 and integrase inhibitors.
Peter Staley asks Professor Simon Mallal from the Royal Perth Hospital about a simple new genetic test that accurately predicts if a patient is at risk for an allergic reaction to abacavir (Ziagen).
In this videocast, Dr. Fred Gordin explains why many experts think we might be waiting too long to put patients on HIV treatment.
Regan Hofmann interviews Maura Elaripe Mea, the first HIV-positive woman to come forward publicly in her country. Through Igat Hope, the national network of people living with HIV/AIDS in PNG, Maura and others fight AIDS discrimination while spreading information and hope.
Dr. Don Kotler discusses the latest from Sydney, both good and bad, on lipodystrophy treatments and cardiovascular risk in people with HIV.
In this videocast, Dr. Eric Daar provides an overview of which nukes, non-nukes, and protease inhibitors might cause fat loss, and which ones probably won't.
A videocast interview with Professor Brian Gazzard, an expert on HIV and aging.
Peter Staley interviews Tony Fauci about his research on HIV "eradication," President Bush's AIDS legacy, why he likes gay men and Republicans, and that letter he wrote supporting Scooter Libby.
