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  • Title: No tease this time--pros and cons of a long-awaited anti-HIV drug.
    Author: Chang HE.
    Journal: Posit Aware; 1996; 7(1):18-20. PubMed ID: 11363118.
    Abstract:
    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first protease inhibitor, saquinavir, for combination treatment with approved nucleoside analogs in adults with advanced HIV. However, it denied the use of saquinavir as a monotherapy. Protease inhibitors prevent infected cells from reproducing viral particles. All saquinavir studies have used a dose of 600mg 3 times per day. Another formulation of saquinavir and higher dosages of the present formulation are being tested to increase the bioavailability. In AZT-naive patients, a combination of saquinavir and AZT produces better improvements in CD4 counts and in viral load reduction compared to either of the drugs alone. In patients with extensive prior AZT therapy, saquinavir in combination with ddC provided greater and longer surrogate marker benefits compared to either drug alone. Saquinavir also improved the activity of ddC plus AZT. The most common side effects were diarrhea and nausea. Altogether, only four percent of patients receiving saquinavir had side effects. Toxicity was not increased when saquinavir was added to AZT and ddC. Cross resistance to other PIs has been found, so the use of saquinavir may limit the benefits of future PIs.
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