Merck has announced that it is launching a clinical trial to evaluate whether its integrase inhibitor, Isentress (raltegravir), can be used once daily by people who’ve never taken antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.
Isentress, which stops HIV from integrating into the genetic material of CD4 cells, is currently approved for people who are heavily treatment experienced and is taken twice a day.
The new trial, called QDMRK, will enroll 750 HIV-positive patients in 21 countries who’ve never taken ARV treatment. It will compare a regimen containing 400 milligrams of Isentress taken twice a day to a regimen containing 800 milligrams of Isentress once daily.
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"I'm HIV positive and diabetic (as well as have high cholesterol) and some of my meds specify taking them with 'high fat foods' which I have to do twice a day. I've eaten as healthy as possible, but when it comes to high fat foods, I am in a quandary...about what to eat sometimes..."
