HIV/AIDS Topics Stem Cell Gene Therapy Appears Safe, May Protect Cells against HIV Infection
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- Category: Search for a Cure
- Published on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 14:16
- Written by Liz Highleyman
A gene therapy technique that alters an HIV positive person's blood-producing stem cells to make them resistant to the virus appeared safe and led to stable populations of resistant cells in a small study described in the June 16, 2010 online edition of Science Translational Medicine, paving the way for further proof-of-concept studies of this approach.
Monoclonal Antibody PRO 140 Suppresses HIV Viral Load with Once-weekly Dosing
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- Category: Experimental HIV Drugs
- Published on Friday, 07 May 2010 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Subcutaneous injections of PRO 140, a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the CCR5 co-receptor and inhibits HIV entry into cells, reduced viral load significantly more than placebo, according to a study described in the May 15, 2010 Journal of Infectious Diseases. PRO 140 worked well when administered once-weekly, offering proof-of-concept for an antiretroviral therapy that can be taken less often than current drugs.
CROI 2010: Vitamin D Deficiency is Widespread among People with HIV in U.S., Europe, and Africa
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 19 March 2010 13:57
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Low levels of vitamin D are common among HIV positive people around the world, especially in seasons when people get less sun exposure, according to a series of studies presented at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2010) last month in San Francisco. Vitamin D deficiency promotes bone loss and has been linked to conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and vaginal inflammation.
Gilead Begins First Phase 3 Clinical Trials of Boosted Elvitegravir Quad Pill
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- Category: Experimental HIV Drugs
- Published on Friday, 16 April 2010 14:16
- Written by Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences announced this week that the first participants have started receiving therapy in Phase 3 trials of the "Quad" pill, a 4-in-1 coformulation containing the experimental integrase inhibitor elvitegravir, the new booster cobicistat (GS 9350), tenofovir, and emtricitabine. As reported recently at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2010), the Quad pill performed as well as Atripla (the 3-in-1 efavirenz, tenofovir, and emtricitabine coformulation) in a head-to-head Phase 2 trial. The Phase 3 trials will compare the Quad pill versus efavirenz and boosted atazanavir (Reyataz) in treatment-naive patients.
FDA Updates Etravirine (Intelence) Label with Additional Information on Drug Interactions
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:15
- Written by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week announced that the product label for the next-generation NNRTI etravirine (Intelence) has been updated to include new information about drug-drug interactions with the boosted protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), the antifungal agents fluconazole (Diflucan) and voriconazole (VFEND), and the anti-clotting medication clopidogrel (Plavix).
San Francisco Health Officials Announce New Policy of Universal HIV Treatment Regardless of CD4 Cell Count
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 16 April 2010 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Providers at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) and other facilities run by the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) are now offering antiretroviral therapy (ART) to all patients who test HIV positive, regardless of CD4 cell count. At a community forum this week, health officials and researchers discussed the policy change, the scientific evidence supporting earlier therapy, and potential concerns including increased cost and need for adherence support.
CROI 2010: ART Intensification with Maraviroc (Selzentry) or Raltegravir (Isentress) May Improve Immune Activation and Inflammation
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 16 March 2010 13:57
- Written by Liz Highleyman
The CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (Selzentry) was associated with reduced immune activation and inflammation in 3 studies presented at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2010) last month in San Francisco. The integrase inhibitor raltegravir (Isentress) may also have some inflammation-dampening effect, but 3 recent studies produced mixed results.
More Articles...
- HIV Reservoir Found in Blood Progenitor Cells in Bone Marrow
- CROI 2010: LEDGF/p75 Integrase Inhibitors and Capsid Assembly Inhibitors Offer New Approaches for Blocking HIV Replication
- CROI 2010: ACTG 5202 Shows Abacavir/lamivudine and Tenofovir/emtricitabine Provide Similar HIV Suppression at Low Viral Loads
- FDA Announces Preliminary Data Suggesting Heart Risk with Saquinavir (Invirase) plus Ritonavir (Norvir)
- CROI 2010: Investigational Drug TBR-652 Demonstrates Dual Activity against CCR5 and CCR2 Co-receptors
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