A new extended-release (XR), once-a-day version of the antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. drug nevirapine (Viramune) will be available on the PBS[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. from April 1.
Twice-daily nevirapine is a common component of many people’s regimens. The drug is often chosen in preference to efavirenz (also from the same Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorA type of anti-HIV drug which works by interfering with an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, that HIV needs to reproduce. class)but until now it’s twice-daily dosing has made it a less attractive option for many people. Availability of nevirapine XR changes that.
Results from the VERxVE study showed that the new dosage formulation is equally as effective as the currently available, twice-aday, immediate release version of the drug.
Its approval for release in Australia follows quickly on the heels of it being made available in the USA last year.
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