scholarly journals Steady-State Pharmacokinetics of Abacavir in Plasma and Intracellular Carbovir Triphosphate following Administration of Abacavir at 600 Milligrams Once Daily and 300 Milligrams Twice Daily in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Subjects

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 1532-1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Moyle ◽  
Marta Boffito ◽  
Carl Fletcher ◽  
Chris Higgs ◽  
Phillip E. Hay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Virologic Suppression ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
And Gender

ABSTRACT Abacavir (ABC) is administered either at 600 mg once daily (ABC 600 mg QD) or 300 mg twice daily (ABC 300 mg BID) in anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) combination therapy. Although ABC plasma pharmacokinetics following each regimen has been well defined, no study has directly compared the regimens with respect to pharmacokinetics of ABC's active intracellular anabolite, carbovir-triphosphate (CBV-TP). In an open-label, two-period, crossover study, 34 HIV-infected male and female subjects stabilized on antiretroviral regimens containing either ABC 600 mg QD or ABC 300 mg BID received their usual doses on days −1 and 1 and then switched regimens for days 2 to 11. Serial blood samples collected on days 1 and 11 were assayed for plasma ABC and intracellular CBV-TP concentrations using validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental methods. Analysis of variance with a mixed-effect model was performed for treatment and gender comparisons. In 27 evaluable subjects, the regimens provided bioequivalent ABC daily areas under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) and comparable CBV-TP concentrations at the end of the dosing interval (C τ). As expected, ABC QD resulted in 109% higher ABC maximum concentrations of drug in plasma (C max) than did ABC BID. ABC QD also resulted in 32% higher CBV-TP AUC0-24 and 99% higher CBV-TP C max than did ABC BID. Females had a 38% higher weight-adjusted ABC AUC0-24 and 81% higher weight-adjusted CBV-TP AUC0-24 than did males. Virologic suppression was maintained during regimen switch, and no tolerability differences between regimens were observed. In conclusion, this study showed that ABC 600 mg QD and ABC 300 mg BID regimens led to similar intracellular CBV-TP C τ values, thus providing pharmacokinetic support for the interchangeability of these two regimens. Women had higher intracellular CBV-TP exposure than did men.

scholarly journals Rifampin Reduces Concentrations of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole in Serum in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 3238-3241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban Ribera ◽  
Leonor Pou ◽  
Antoni Fernandez-Sola ◽  
Francisco Campos ◽  
Rosa M. Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
High Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Parent Drug ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Concentration Time ◽  
Antituberculosis Treatment ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT To determine whether rifampin reduces concentrations of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in serum of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, levels of these agents were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography before and after more than 12 days of standard antituberculosis treatment for 10 patients who had been taking one double-strength tablet of co-trimoxazole once daily for more than 1 month. Statistically significant, 47 and 23% decreases in TMP and SMX mean areas under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0–24), respectively, were observed after administration of rifampin.N-Acetyl-SMX profiles without and with rifampin were similar. The steady-state AUC0–24 metabolite/parent drug ratio increased by 32% with rifampin administration. Our study shows that rifampin reduces profiles of TMP and SMX in serum of HIV-infected patients.

scholarly journals Herb-Drug Interaction betweenEchinacea purpureaand Darunavir-Ritonavir in HIV-Infected Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 326-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Moltó ◽  
Marta Valle ◽  
Cristina Miranda ◽  
Samandhy Cedeño ◽  
Eugenia Negredo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Echinacea Purpurea ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Root Extract ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Fixed Sequence ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Sequence Study

ABSTRACTThe aim of this open-label, fixed-sequence study was to investigate the potential ofEchinacea purpurea, a commonly used botanical supplement, to interact with the boosted protease inhibitor darunavir-ritonavir. Fifteen HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy including darunavir-ritonavir (600/100 mg twice daily) for at least 4 weeks were included.E. purpurearoot extract capsules were added to the antiretroviral treatment (500 mg every 6 h) from days 1 to 14. Darunavir concentrations in plasma were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography immediately before and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h after a morning dose of darunavir-ritonavir on days 0 (darunavir-ritonavir) and 14 (darunavir-ritonavir plus echinacea). Individual darunavir pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis and compared between days 0 and 14 with the geometric mean ratio (GMR) and its 90% confidence interval (CI). The median age was 49 (range, 43 to 67) years, and the body mass index was 24.2 (range, 18.7 to 27.5) kg/m2. Echinacea was well tolerated, and all participants completed the study. The GMR for darunavir coadministered with echinacea relative to that for darunavir alone was 0.84 (90% CI, 0.63-1.12) for the concentration at the end of the dosing interval, 0.90 (90% CI, 0.74-1.10) for the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h, and 0.98 (90% CI, 0.82-1.16) for the maximum concentration. In summary, coadministration ofE. purpureawith darunavir-ritonavir was safe and well tolerated. Individual patients did show a decrease in darunavir concentrations, although this did not affect the overall darunavir or ritonavir pharmacokinetics. Although no dose adjustment is required, monitoring darunavir concentrations on an individual basis may give reassurance in this setting.

scholarly journals A Randomized Switch From Nevirapine-Based Antiretroviral Therapy to Single Tablet Rilpivirine/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Virologically Suppressed Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-Infected Rwandans

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean E. Collins ◽  
Philip M. Grant ◽  
Francois Uwinkindi ◽  
Annie Talbot ◽  
Eric Seruyange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Current Therapy ◽  
Virologic Suppression ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv 1

Abstract Background.  Many human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients remain on nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) despite safety and efficacy concerns. Switching to a rilpivirine-based regimen is an alternative, but there is little experience with rilpivirine in sub-Saharan Africa where induction of rilpivirine metabolism by nevirapine, HIV subtype, and dietary differences could potentially impact efficacy. Methods.  We conducted an open-label noninferiority study of virologically suppressed (HIV-1 ribonucleic acid [RNA] < 50 copies/mL) HIV-1-infected Rwandan adults taking nevirapine plus 2 nucleos(t)ide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. One hundred fifty participants were randomized 2:1 to switch to coformulated rilpivirine-emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (referenced as the Switch Arm) or continue current therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint was HIV-1 RNA < 200 copies/mL at week 24 assessed by the US Food and Drug Administration Snapshot algorithm with a noninferiority margin of 12%. Results.  Between April and September 2014, 184 patients were screened, and 150 patients were enrolled; 99 patients switched to rilpivirine-emtricitabine-tenofovir, and 51 patients continued their nevirapine-based ART. The mean age was 42 years and 43% of participants were women. At week 24, virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA level <200 copies/mL) was maintained in 93% and 92% in the Switch Arm versus the continuation arm, respectively. The Switch Arm was noninferior to continued nevirapine-based ART (efficacy difference 0.8%; 95% confidence interval, −7.5% to +12.0%). Both regimens were generally safe and well tolerated, although 2 deaths, neither attributed to study medications, occurred in participants in the Switch Arm. Conclusions.  A switch from nevirapine-based ART to rilpivirine-emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate had similar virologic efficacy to continued nevirapine-based ART after 24 weeks with few adverse events.

scholarly journals Lack of Effect of Zafirlukast on the Pharmacokinetics of Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, and 14-Hydroxyclarithromycin in Healthy Volunteers

1999 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1152-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin W. Garey ◽  
Charles A. Peloquin ◽  
Paul G. Godo ◽  
Anne N. Nafziger ◽  
Guy W. Amsden
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Steady State Concentration ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
Concentration Time ◽  
State Concentration

ABSTRACT This randomized, open-label, crossover study was conducted to investigate whether the coadministration of zafirlukast would affect the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin, clarithromycin, or 14-hydroxyclarithromycin (14-OHC). Twelve healthy subjects (six males and six females) received single 500-mg doses of azithromycin and clarithromycin with and without zafirlukast given to a steady-state concentration. Blood was collected prior to all macrolide doses and for 3 and 10 days after each clarithromycin and azithromycin dose, respectively. Serum was assayed for azithromycin, clarithromycin, and 14-OHC concentrations by validated high-performance liquid chromatography assay systems. Data analyses were done by noncompartmental and nonparametric methods. Analysis of the patients indicated that the addition of steady-state concentrations of zafirlukast did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of or overall exposure (based on the area under the concentration-time curve) to azithromycin, clarithromycin, and 14-OHC. While zafirlukast is a known inhibitor of CYP3A4, it does not appear to exert a clinically or statistically significant pharmacokinetic effect on azithromycin, clarithromycin, or 14-OHC.

scholarly journals Effects of Valproic Acid Coadministration on Plasma Efavirenz and Lopinavir Concentrations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Adults

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 4328-4331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert DiCenzo ◽  
Derick Peterson ◽  
Kim Cruttenden ◽  
Gene Morse ◽  
Garret Riggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Valproic Acid ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Trough Concentrations ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Valproic acid (VPA) has the potential to benefit patients suffering from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine if VPA affects the plasma concentration of efavirenz (EFV) or lopinavir. HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients receiving EFV or lopinavir-ritonavir (LPV/r) had 9 or 10 blood samples drawn over 8 to 24 h of a dosing interval at steady state before and after receiving 250 mg of VPA twice daily for 7 days. VPA blood samples drawn before (C 0) and 8 h after the morning dose (8 h) were compared to blood samples from a group of HIV-1-infected subjects who were taking either combined nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors alone or had discontinued antiretroviral therapy. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis, and tests of bioequivalence were based on 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for ratios or differences. The geometric mean ratio (GMR) (90% CI) of the areas under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24s) of EFV (n = 11) with and without VPA was 1.00 (0.85, 1.17). The GMR (90% CI) of the AUC0-8s of LPV (n = 8) with and without VPA was 1.38 (0.98, 1.94). The differences (90% CI) in mean C 0 and 8-h VPA concentrations versus the control (n = 11) were −1.0 (−9.4, 7.4) μg/ml and −2.1 (−11.1, 6.9) μg/ml for EFV (n = 10) and −5.0 (−13.2, 3.3) μg/ml and −6.7 (−17.6, 4.2) μg/ml for LPV/r (n = 11), respectively. EFV administration alone is bioequivalent to EFV and VPA coadministration. LPV concentrations tended to be higher when the drug was combined with VPA. Results of VPA comparisons fail to raise concern that coadministration with EFV or LPV/r will significantly influence trough concentrations of VPA.

Pharmacokinetics of Rifapentine in Subjects Seropositive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: a Phase I Study

1999 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1230-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anther C.-F. Keung ◽  
Robert C. Owens ◽  
Mark G. Eller ◽  
Scott J. Weir ◽  
David P. Nicolau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Fasting Period ◽  
Chromatography Method ◽  
Volunteer Study ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Control And Prevention

ABSTRACT Rifapentine is undergoing development for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. This study was conducted to characterize the single-dose pharmacokinetics of rifapentine and its 25-desacetyl metabolite and to assess the effect of food on the rate and extent of absorption in participants infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Twelve men and four women, mean age, 38.6 ± 6.9 years, received a single 600-mg oral dose of rifapentine in an open-label, randomized two-way, complete crossover study. Each volunteer received rifapentine following a high-fat breakfast or during a fasting period. Serial blood samples were collected for 72 h and both rifapentine and its metabolite were assayed by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Pharmacokinetics of rifapentine and 25-desacetylrifapentine were determined by noncompartmental methods. Mean (± the standard deviation) maximum concentrations of rifapentine in serum and areas under the curve from time zero to infinity following a high-fat breakfast were 14.09 ± 2.81 and 373.63 ± 78.19 μg/ml, respectively, and following a fasting period they were 9.42 ± 2.67 and 256.10 ± 86.39 μg · h/ml, respectively. Pharmacokinetic data from a previously published healthy volunteer study were used for comparison. Administration of rifapentine with a high-fat breakfast resulted in a 51% increase in rifapentine bioavailability, an effect also observed in healthy volunteers. Although food increased the exposure of these patients to rifapentine, the infrequent dosing schedule for the treatment of tuberculosis (e.g., once- or twice-weekly dosing) would be unlikely to lead to accumulation. Additionally, autoinduction has been previously studied and has not been demonstrated with this compound, unlike with rifabutin and rifampin. Rifapentine was well tolerated by HIV-infected study participants. The results of our study suggest that no dosage adjustments may be required for rifapentine in HIV-infected patients (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification A1, A2, B1, or B2) undergoing treatment for tuberculosis.

scholarly journals Is the Recommended Dose of Efavirenz Optimal in Young West African Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children?

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 4407-4413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Déborah Hirt ◽  
Saik Urien ◽  
Mathieu Olivier ◽  
Hélène Peyrière ◽  
Boubacar Nacro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Ratio Test ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Concentration Time ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT We aimed in this study to describe efavirenz concentration-time courses in treatment-naïve children after once-daily administration to study the effects of age and body weight on efavirenz pharmacokinetics and to test relationships between doses, plasma concentrations, and efficacy. For this purpose, efavirenz concentrations in 48 children were measured after 2 weeks of didanosine-lamivudine-efavirenz treatment, and samples were available for 9/48 children between months 2 and 5 of treatment. Efavirenz concentrations in 200 plasma specimens were measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed with NONMEM. The influence of individual characteristics was tested using a likelihood ratio test. The estimated minimal and maximal concentrations of efavirenz in plasma (C min and C max, respectively) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were correlated to the decrease in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA levels after 3 months of treatment. The threshold C min (and AUC) that improved efficacy was determined. The target minimal concentration of 4 mg/liter was considered for toxicity. An optimized dosing schedule that would place the highest percentage of children in the interval of effective and nontoxic concentrations was simulated. The pharmacokinetics of efavirenz was best described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. The mean apparent clearance and volume of distribution for efavirenz were 0.211 liter/h/kg and 4.48 liters/kg, respectively. Clearance decreased significantly with age. When the recommended doses were given to 46 of the 48 children, 19% (44% of children weighing less than 15 kg) had C mins below 1 mg/liter. A significantly higher percentage of children with C mins of >1.1 mg/liter or AUCs of >51 mg/liter·h than of children with lower values had viral load decreases greater than 2 log10 copies/ml after 3 months of treatment. Therefore, to optimize the percentage of children with C mins between 1.1 and 4 mg/liter, children should receive the following once-daily efavirenz doses: 25 mg/kg of body weight from 2 to 6 years, 15 mg/kg from 6 to 10 years, and 10 mg/kg from 10 to 15 years. These assumptions should be prospectively confirmed.

scholarly journals Virtual Inhibitory Quotient Predicts Response to Ritonavir Boosting of Indinavir-Based Therapy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients with Ongoing Viremia

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 3907-3916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Shulman ◽  
Andrew Zolopa ◽  
Diane Havlir ◽  
Ann Hsu ◽  
Cheryl Renz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Virologic Response ◽  
Virologic Suppression ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Minimum Concentration ◽  
Phenotypic Resistance ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT Depending on the degree of underlying resistance present, optimization of the pharmacokinetics of protease inhibitors may result in improved virologic suppression. Thirty-seven human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects who had chronic detectable viremia and who were receiving 800 mg of indinavir three times a day (TID) were switched to 400 mg of indinavir BID with 400 mg of ritonavir two times a day (BID) for 48 weeks. Full pharmacokinetic evaluations were obtained for 12 subjects before the switch and 3 weeks after the switch. Combination therapy increased the indinavir predose concentrations in plasma by 6.47-fold, increased the minimum concentration in serum by 3.41-fold, and reduced the maximum concentration in serum by 57% without significantly changing the area under the plasma concentration-time curve at 24 h. At week 3, 58% (21 of 36) of the subjects for whom postbaseline measurements were available achieved a viral load in plasma of <50 copies/ml or a reduction from the baseline load of ≥0.5 log10 copies/ml. Of these subjects, 82% (14 of 17) whose viruses had three or fewer protease inhibitor mutations and 88% (14 of 16) whose viruses had an indinavir virtual phenotypic susceptibility test of more than sixfold less than that for the baseline isolate were considered virologic responders. The indinavir virtual inhibitory quotient, which is a function of baseline indinavir phenotypic resistance (estimated by virtual phenotype) and the indinavir predose concentration in plasma achieved with indinavir-ritonavir combination therapy, was the best predictor of a viral load reduction. Sixteen subjects discontinued the study by week 48 due to adverse events, predominantly related to hyperlipidemia. Pharmacokinetic intensification of indinavir-based therapy with ritonavir reduced the viral loads in subjects but added toxicity. The virtual inhibitory quotient, which incorporates both baseline viral resistance and the level of drug exposure in plasma, was superior to either baseline resistance or drug exposure alone in predicting the virologic response.

scholarly journals Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Once-Daily Regimens of Soft-Gel Capsule Saquinavir plus Minidose Ritonavir in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Negative Adults

2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 2672-2678 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Kilby ◽  
Greg Sfakianos ◽  
Nick Gizzi ◽  
Peggy Siemon-Hryczyk ◽  
Eric Ehrensing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Dose ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors have dramatically improved treatment options for HIV infection, but frequent dosing may impact adherence to highly active antiretroviral treatment regimens (HAART). Previous studies demonstrated that combined therapy with ritonavir and saquinavir allows a decrease in frequency of saquinavir dosing to twice daily. In this study, we evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of combining once-daily doses of the soft-gel capsule (SGC) formulation of saquinavir (saquinavir-SGC) and minidose ritonavir. Forty-four healthy HIV-negative volunteers were randomized into groups receiving once-daily doses of saquinavir-SGC (1,200 to 1,800 mg) plus ritonavir (100 to 200 mg) or a control group receiving only saquinavir-SGC (1,200 mg) three times daily. Saquinavir-SGC alone and saquinavir-SGC–ritonavir combinations were generally well tolerated, and there were no safety concerns. Addition of ritonavir (100 mg) to saquinavir-SGC (1,200 to 1,800 mg/day) increased the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for saquinavir severalfold, and the intersubject peak concentration in plasma and AUC variability were reduced compared to those achieved with saquinavir-SGC alone (3,600 mg/day), while trough saquinavir levels (24 h post-dose) were substantially higher than the 90% inhibitory concentration calculated from HIV-1 clinical isolates. Neither increasing the saquinavir-SGC dose to higher than 1,600 mg nor increasing ritonavir from 100 to 200 mg appeared to further enhance the AUC. These results suggest that an all once-daily HAART regimen, utilizing saquinavir-SGC plus a more tolerable low dose of ritonavir, may be feasible. Studies of once-daily saquinavir-SGC (1,600 mg) in combination with ritonavir (100 mg) in HIV-infected patients are underway.

scholarly journals Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Data Support Once-Daily Low-Dose Boosted Saquinavir (1,200 Milligrams Saquinavir with 100 Milligrams Ritonavir) in Treatment-Naive or Limited Protease Inhibitor-Experienced Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 2035-2042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Marin-Niebla ◽  
Luis Fernando Lopez-Cortes ◽  
Rosa Ruiz-Valderas ◽  
Pompeyo Viciana ◽  
Rosario Mata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Protease Inhibitor ◽  
Virological Failure ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Treatment Naïve

ABSTRACT We evaluated the plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of once-daily low-dose boosted saquinavir (SQVr; 1,200 of saquinavir [SQV] with 100 mg of ritonavir) plus two nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors in treatment-naive or limited protease inhibitor (PI)-experienced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. A prospective study without entry restrictions on the plasma HIV-RNA (VL) or CD4 cell count was carried out. Plasma and intracellular SQV levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Efficacy was evaluated by an intention-to-treat analysis; treatment failure was defined as virological failure (a VL of >50 copies/ml after 24 weeks or a confirmed rebound to >50 copies/ml) or interruption for any reason. A total of 151 patients were included in the study (106 of them either had never received PI or had no previous virological failure on PIs) and could be characterized as follows: previous C3 stage, 28.9%; injection-drug users, 69.1%; subjects with chronic viral hepatitis, 53%; and subjects with cirrhosis, 10%. The median baseline CD4 level was 184/μl, and the median VL was 4.8 log10 copies/ml. Median C max, area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h, and C min plasma and intracellular SQV levels were 3,672 and 10,105 ng/ml, 34,283 and 99,535 ng·h/ml, and 359 and 1,062 ng/ml, respectively. The efficacy as determined by intention to treat at 52 weeks was 69.7% (96% in the on-treatment analysis), with similar results regardless of the baseline VL and CD4 counts. Only five patients had virological failure despite adequate C min levels, but with a poor adherence (the only variable related to virological failure). Adverse events caused the withdrawal of the treatment in four patients (2.6%). In conclusion, given the pharmacokinetic profile, efficacy, and tolerability of this regimen, once-daily low-dose SQVr may be considered a treatment option in treatment-naive or limited PI-experienced HIV-infected patients, with the additional benefit of being currently the least-expensive PI-based regimen available.

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