HIV and AIDS Current Topics in HIV and AIDS

New AIDS Drug Makes HIV Treatment Easier

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first once-daily pill for the treatment of HIV. The drug, Atripla, combines three antiretrovitral drugs commonly used in the treatment of patients with HIV. These drugs, Sustiva (efavirenz), Emtriva (emtricitabine) and Viread (tenofovir), work in combination to prevent the HIV virus from replicating.

Atripla, manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences, was approved via the FDA's fast track program, which allows potentially life-saving drugs to get to market as soon as possible. The one-dose daily formula of this drug makes it much easier for patients to take their medication on schedule, making it that much more effective.

"The approval of Atripla simplifies the treatment regimen for HIV-1 infected adults and will potentially improve the ability of patients to adhere to treatment resulting in long-term effective control of HIV-1." said Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, the acting commissioner of food and drugs for the FDA.

Only 10 years ago, people with HIV had to take anywhere from 12 to 24 different pills each day to keep their virus count in check. These drugs also had to be taken at exact times. Now, patients may only need to take one pill a day.

In a previous study, researchers found that this combination of AIDS drugs was simpler to use and more effective than older medications. The patients who took a once-a-day treatment regimen of Truvada, which itself is a combination of Sustiva and Emtriva, along with Viread were more likely to control the virus than those who relied on a combination based on the old-standbys, AZT and 3TC.

After two years on therapy, 80 percent of those who took the once-a-day Viread-based combo had undetectable levels of HIV versus 70 percent who were on the twice-a-day AZT-based one. There were fewer complaints of nausea and fatigue in the group taking the newer combination. In contrast to those who took the older drugs, patients who took the newer treatments also had a higher number of disease fighting cells.

Using the new pill that combines three medications seems just as promising. However, the FDA has placed a warning on the drug because it can cause a buildup of lactic acid in the blood. Additionally, if this drug is taken by hepatitis B patients and stopped, it can cause severe flare-ups of the disease. Other side effects of the drug include liver and renal problems, depression, headache, dizziness, nausea and rash.