CROI 2014A promising trial of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s investigational attachment inhibitor BMS-663068 raises hope of the introduction of a new antiretroviral drug class, which would especially benefit those with multidrug resistance, aidsmap reports. The randomized, controlled Phase IIb trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of BMS-663068 in 253 treatment-experienced people with HIV who had a viral load of at least 1,000 and a CD4 count above 50, and about half of whom had resistance to at least one ARV drug class. Results were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.

The study participants randomly received one of five drug regimens that all contained Viread (tenofovir) and Isentress (raltegravir), plus: either BMS-663068 at 400 milligrams or 800 mg twice a day, or 600 mg or 1,200 mg once a day; or (as a control) ritonavir-boosted Reyataz (atazanavir).

After 24 weeks, the treatment arms containing BMS-663068 were similar in efficacy, with a range of 69 to 80 percent of participants achieving an undetectable viral load. This was compared with 75 percent who did so in the control group. The groups all experienced similar increases in CD4 levels.

BMS-663068 proved generally well tolerated regardless of the dose. There were no indications of safety problems.

To read the BMS press release, click here.

To read the aidsmap story, click here.