A monitoring board for an international trial comparing three antiretroviral (ARV) regimens has found that Reyataz (atazanavir) combined with Emtriva (emtricitabine) and Videx-EC (didanosine) is inferior to the others studied in terms of viral control. The board has ordered that patients receiving the once-daily Reyataz-based regimen be switched to another drug combination in consultation with their health care provider.
All clinical studies have a Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) that regularly evaluates the accumulating data to ensure the safety of the participants. In this case, the DSMB was evaluating data from AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) study 5175, comparing the Reyataz-based regimen to two Sustiva (efavirenz)-based regimens that included either Combivir (zidovudine plus lamivudine) or Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir).
According to the DSMB, of the 1,500-patient ACTG trial, people on the Reyataz-based regimen were significantly less likely to have control of their HIV than people taking the other two regimens. For this reason, all people on the problem regimen have now been alerted to the fact and will be switched to an alternative regimen.
In the United States and other industrialized nations, Reyataz is frequently used with low-dose Norvir (ritonavir) to boost its effectiveness.
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comments 1 - 2 (of 2 total)
Marcos, SP, Brazil, 2008-05-30 07:58:19
Hi Michael,
A relationship with your doctor based on confidence should exist. If you have doubts about it, I strongly advice you to try other doctor? I did it and didn´t regret so far.
Michael, Plano, 2008-05-29 15:56:23
I found the article on Reyataz combo therapy troublesome. I just started the norvir boosted regimen with Truvada and have felt ill and tired ever since. My doctor gave me no other options and am concerned especially due to history of heart disease in the family as well as my own history. He's suppose to be the best in Dallas but I can't seem to get through to him that I'm not happy about this cocktail and he chalks my fatigue up to low tcells, even though I felt great before. Any advice?
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
