efavirenz

New NNRTI looks promising

Graham Stocks — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:49:26 -0800

A next-generation NNRTI under development by ViiV is currently undergoing a multi-centre, randomisedA method based on chance by which study participants are assigned to a treatment group. Randomization minimizes the differences among groups by equally distributing people with particular characteristics among all the trial arms. The researchers do not know which treatment is better. From what is known at the time, any one of the treatments chosen could be of benefit to the participant double-blindA clinical trial design in which neither the participating individuals nor the study staff knows which participants are receiving the experimental drug and which are receiving a placebo (or another therapy). Double-blind trials are thought to produce objective results, since the expectations of the doctor and the participant about the experimental drug do not affect the outcome; also called double-masked study. Phase IIb trial comparing it with efavirenz in treatment-naïve PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA..

Rilpivirine as good as efavirenz

Graham Stocks — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:54:17 -0800

Dr Mark Bloch from Holdsworth House in Sydney presented the 48-week results of the combined ECHO and THRIVE studies which determined that the new NNRTI rilpivirine (RPV) is as effective as efavirenz (EFV) for first-line treatment.

Everyone in the studies received a nucleoside backbone to their treatment – in ECHO it was Truvada, in THRIVE it was tenfovir/3TC or abacavir/3TC.

The ongoing effects of efavirenz

Graham Stocks — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:47:50 -0700

Neuropsychiatric side effects are a common problem for people on efavirenz (EFV), but a study reported last year reveals just how common they are, and how long they last.

The SENSE trial was designed to evaluate whether 12 weeks of treatment with once-daily etravirine (ETR) plus 2NRTIs would lead to fewer neuropsychiatric adverse events than treatment with efavirenz plus 2NRTIs.

Drugs linked to heart risks, minimal

Graham Stocks — Wed, 25 May 2011 23:36:20 -0700

A Canadian study has associated abacavir, efavirenz, lopinavir and ritonavir with an increased risk of heart attackA life-threatening emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die from lack of oxygen.. The research also showed that patients with HIV had twice the risk of heart attack compared to matched HIV
negative controls.

Efavirenz dose reduction possible

Graham Stocks — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:37:17 -0800

People who experience ongoing central nervous system (CNS) side effects from the treatment efavirenz will be pleased to know that they may soon be able to take a lower dose of the drug.

Stepped dosing lessens efavirenz side-effects

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:04:35 -0700

Efavirenz is currently one of the preferred options for people starting treatment. Used in combination with other antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV., it is a highly efficient therapy, however, it is also common for people to experience ‘trippy’ side effects on the drug, particularly within the first few weeks.

Lower dosing trial funded

Jill Sergeant — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:22:46 -0700

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has granted AUD $12.4 million to the University of NSW to study whether lower doses of some commonly used antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. drugs are as effective as currently prescribed doses.

CROI 2007: A great leap forward

Paul Kidd — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 07:10:12 -0700

A major scientific conference on HIV has wound up with promising news on treatments which could signal a significant improvement in HIV treatment for the first time in some years.

Non-nukes

Paul Kidd — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:07:15 -0700

Non-nucleosides are a powerful option for treating HIV, but cross-resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant. can mean you only get one bite of the cherry. This is the final instalment in a three-part series looking at key drug classesA group of anti-HIV drugs with the same target of action. Anti-HIV drug classes include nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, as well as several others. Combining drugs from three or more classes is the basis of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)..

You can get there from here

Paul Kidd — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:00:16 -0800

Getting started on treatments is never easy. And sometimes, as SAM PESCI found, it takes a concerted effort to fit treatments into your life.