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Pharmacokinetics of efavirenz (EFV) alone and in combination therapy with nelfinavir (NFV) in HIV-1 infected patients.

AIMS: To define the pharmacokinetic profile of efavirenz (EFV) in HIV-1 infected patients, when administered alone or with nelfinavir (NFV). METHODS: Eleven HIV-positive patients, in steady-state treatment with EFV and 11 patients in steady-state treatment with EFV+NFV, were evaluated. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were obtained during a dosage interval. Plasma concentrations of EFV were determined by h.p.l.c. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the principal pharmacokinetic parameters of EFV when administered alone or in combination with NFV (mean AUC: 57.1-7727.3 vs 60.9+/-12.3 microg ml-1 h; mean CL/F: 0.18+/-0.072 vs 0.16+/-0.04 l h-1 kg-1; mean Cmax: 4.0+/-1.7 vs 4.3+/-1.2 microg ml-1, and mean tmax: 4.1+/-1.7 vs 3.5+/-0.5 h) Mean trough plasma concentrations (C0) of EFV were 1.64+/-0.93 microg ml-1, with and without NFV. A good correlation was found between C0 and AUC(0,24h) (r=0.96; P<0. 01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the common metabolic pathway, there was no significant influence of NFV on the pharmacokinetics of EFV. EFV exhibits a relatively low interindividual variability and a dosing regimen of 600 mg day-1 assures plasma concentrations that are adequate for inhibition of viral replication.

Adult↗

Adherence, side effects and efficacy of stavudine plus lamivudine plus nelfinavir in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate adherence, side effects and efficacy of a modality of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: In a cohort, prospective study, 65 previously treated patients received stavudine plus lamivudine plus nelfinavir. Fifty-three participants (81%) had a history of intravenous drug use. Patients were evaluated at 3-month intervals. The association of adherence with demographic variables, hepatitis C virus infection, number of stopped antiretroviral regimens, HIV RNA level, CD4 cell count, and adverse effects to drugs was assessed. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 12 months, 30 participants (46%) showed adequate adherence in all visits. An association was observed between adherence and female sex: 18 of 47 men (38%) vs. 12 of 18 women (67%) presented adequate adherence in all visits (P=0. 0416). An association was also observed between adherence and low baseline HIV RNA level (P=0.0229). Discontinuation of treatment took place because of refusal to take medication in 11 participants (17%) and because of side effects in seven participants (11%). Undetectable HIV RNA level was achieved in 26 patients (40%) at 3 months and in lower percentages at months 6, 9 and 12. CONCLUSIONS: Overall adherence to the employed HAART regimen was poor. Female sex and low baseline HIV RNA were associated with better adherence. Refusal to take medications and side effects were the main reasons to stop therapy. At 3 months' follow-up, virological efficacy was achieved in 40% of patients.

Adult↗

Efficacy of nelfinavir-based treatment in the central nervous system of HIV-1 infected patients.

We studied the HIV-1 load and nelfinavir (NFV) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after long-term successful NFV-based therapy, using ultrasensitive methods of detection. 19 patients without virological failure in plasma, who had been treated with 2 nucleoside analogue reverse transcripaste inhibitors (NRTI) and NFV for a minimum of 18 months were included. HIV-RNA was determined in plasma and CSF using an ultrasensitive method (<2 copies/ml). Total and free concentrations of NFV were analysed using high liquid chromatography with UV-light detection. 12 out of 19 (63%) patients had <2 copies HIV-RNA/ml in CSF. Seven subjects ranged between 3 and 39 copies/ml, 2 of whom had a slightly higher viral load in CSF than in plasma. NFV was detected in CSF in 16 out of 18 patients analysed and was quantifiable in 8 patients, at concentrations ranging from 6 to 29 nM. There was no correlation between NFV concentration and HIV-RNA levels. Long-term therapy with NFV + 2 NRTI showed no increased rate of virological treatment failure within the central nervous system (CNS) in compliant patients, despite earlier reports of lack of NFV penetration to CNS. Using a highly sensitive method, NFV was detected and quantified in the CSF, although at low values, which could have contributed to the high anti-HIV-1 efficacy of the therapy seen in our subjects.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 drug resistance in children receiving nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus nevirapine, nelfinavir, or ritonavir (Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 377).

In Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 377, antiretroviral therapy-experienced children were randomized to 4 treatment arms that included different combinations of stavudine, lamivudine (3TC), nevirapine (Nvp), nelfinavir (Nfv), and ritonavir (Rtv). Previous treatment with zidovudine (Zdv), didanosine (ddI), or zalcitabine (ddC) was acceptable. Drug resistance mutations were assessed before study treatment (baseline) and at virologic failure. Zdv, ddI, and ddC mutations were detected frequently at baseline but were not associated with virologic failure. Children with drug resistance mutations at baseline had greater reductions in virus load over time than did children who did not. Nvp and 3TC mutations were detected frequently at virologic failure, and Nvp mutations were more common among children receiving 3-drug versus 4-drug Nvp-containing regimens. Children who were maintained on their study regimen after virologic failure accumulated additional Nvp and 3TC mutations plus Rtv and Nfv mutations. However, Rtv and Nfv mutations were detected at unexpectedly low rates.

Adolescent↗

Nucleoside-analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus nevirapine, nelfinavir, or ritonavir for pretreated children infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The relative potency and tolerability of multidrug regimens used to treat infants and children infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are largely unknown. In Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group (PACTG) Protocol 377, 181 infants and children were assigned to receive stavudine (d4T) plus nevirapine (NVP) and ritonavir (RTV); d4T plus lamivudine (3TC) and nelfinavir (NFV); d4T plus NVP and NFV; or d4T plus 3TC, NVP, and NFV. Eleven additional children received d4T and NVP plus NFV given twice daily. All subjects had not previously received protease inhibitors or nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and all had been immunologically stable while receiving reverse-transcriptase inhibitor therapy. After 48 weeks of therapy, 17 (41%) of 41 subjects receiving d4T-NVP-RTV, 13 (30%) of 44 receiving d4T-NVP-NFV, 21 (42%) of 50 receiving d4T-3TC and NFV (3 times daily), and 22 (52%) of 42 receiving d4T-3TC-NVP-NFV were still receiving their assigned therapy and had HIV-1 RNA suppression to </= 400 copies/mL. These regimens were similar in their drug activity, but the 4-drug regimen offered slightly more durable suppression of viremia.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Interactions between buprenorphine and antiretrovirals. II. The protease inhibitors nelfinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and ritonavir.

We examined drug interactions between buprenorphine, an opioid partial agonist available by prescription for treatment of opioid dependence, and the protease inhibitors (PIs) nelfinavir (NFV), ritonavir (RTV), and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/R). Opioid-dependent, buprenorphine/naloxone-maintained, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative volunteers (n=10 per PI) participated in 24-h pharmacokinetic studies, before and after administration of each PI. Symptoms of opiate withdrawal and excess were determined before and after PI administration. PI pharmacokinetics were determined and compared between opiate-dependent participants and healthy control participants (n=15 per PI). Administration of RTV, but not of NFV or LPV/R, resulted in a significant increase in the buprenorphine area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). Symptoms of opiate excess, however, were not observed. Buprenorphine had no significant effects on PI AUC. Adjustments of doses of either buprenorphine or NFV, LPV/R, or RTV are not likely to be necessary when these drugs are administered for the treatment of opioid dependence and HIV disease.

Adult↗

Phenotypic cross-resistance to nelfinavir: the role of prior antiretroviral therapy and the number of mutations in the protease gene.

Cross-resistance to nelfinavir (NFV) is observed in patients failing protease inhibitor (PI)-containing therapies. We performed a study with 111 patients who started an NFV-based salvage regimen after failing PI-based therapy to evaluate genotypic changes and to identify factors associated with resistance to NFV. Genotypic and phenotypic resistance data at entry (111 and 51 samples) and after NFV failure (74 and 31 samples) were available. Median CD4(+) cell count was 208 x 10(6)/liter, HIV RNA level was 4.6 log(10) copies/ml, and median number of mutations in the protease was 9. At baseline, 51 and 14% of viral isolates showed high or intermediate phenotypic resistance to NFV. Phenotypic data correlated with virological outcome, reaching undetectability at the third month in 40, 14, and 0% of those patients with susceptible, intermediate, or resistant viral isolates, respectively. Phenotypic resistance to NFV was associated with the presence of the L90M mutation: 46% for resistant vs. 6% in susceptible strains. The number of mutations in the protease correlated with the fold-increase in the IC(50)-NFV. The D30N mutation was detected in only 1 of 74 patients who failed. In a logistic regression analysis, the number of mutations in the protease was associated with NFV cross-resistance (RR, 2.09 per each additional mutation; 95% CI 1.23-3.55; p < 0.01). In conclusion, phenotypic cross-resistance to NFV for PI-experienced patients can be predicted by the number of mutations in the protease. The L90M mutation is significantly associated with the subsequent failure of NFV-containing regimens. The presence of the D30N mutation was rare and not useful in identifying NFV-resistant isolates.

Adult↗

Greater reversal of CD4+ cell abnormalities and viral load reduction after initiation of antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and nelfinavir before complete HIV type 1 seroconversion.

In a prospective open-label study, 41 male subjects received nelfinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine stratified as either: early stage (ES; negative/indeterminate Western blot; n = 19) or late stage (LS; positive Western blot; n = 22) primary HIV-1 infection. Despite higher median baseline HIV-1 RNA levels and lower CD4(+) cell numbers in the ES subjects, a significantly greater decline in viral load (-3.46 vs. -2.83 log(10) copies/ml; p = 0.023) and increase in CD4(+) cell number (+85 vs. +41 cells/month increase, p = 0.01) were observed over the first 3 months of therapy such that both groups had comparable results at 1 year. The proportion with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL at 1 year was similar (9 of 19 ES subjects and 11 of 22 LS subjects by intention-to-treat analysis). Memory CD4(+) cell numbers, and activated CD4(+) percentages, were also significantly improved in ES subjects. Despite poorer prognostic markers at baseline ES subjects achieved responses similar to those of LS subjects after 1 year of treatment.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Nelfinavir in HIV-HCV coinfected patients: a 24-month follow-up in a cohort of 82 patients.

This retrospective and longitudinal study evaluated the long-term hepatic tolerance of a nelfinavir (NFV)-antiretroviral combined regimen in 82 patients of the HCV-HIV Cohort of CISIH-Sud of Marseilles. Follow-up data (liver enzyme levels, CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, and metabolic parameters) of patients treated with NFV on inclusion or during the follow-up of the cohort were analyzed under treatment over 24 months. Comparisons were performed with X2 or Kruskal-Wallis tests. At baseline (n = 82), the median exposure to NFV was 4.1 months; 58 patients received NFV combined with NRTI and 24 with NNRTI. The median CD4 cell count was 337/mm3 [interquartile range (IR): 216-480) and 39.7% had an undetectable HIV RNA level. Qualitative HCV PCR was positive in 91% of the patients and 19/51 patients with liver biopsy were F3-F4. Median alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALAT, ASAT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were 46 UI/liter (IR: 36-76), 55 UI/liter (IR: 32-97), 97 UI/liter (IR: 50-194), and 88 UI/liter (IR: 72-104), respectively, with 76% of the patients with ALAT/ASAT grade <2. Median follow-up was 23 months (IR: 13.8-37). No significant difference was observed in the distribution of ALAT, ASAT, GT, and ALP as well as of ALAT/ASAT grades over the 24-month study period. Patients treated with NFV + NNRTI had significantly higher GT and ALP levels at baseline with no significant increase during follow-up. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and glycemia distributions remained stable over time. In conclusion, this study showed a good hepatic and metabolic tolerance of a long-term NFV-combined regimen in HIV-HCV coinfected patients.

Adult↗

Saquinavir pharmacokinetics alone and in combination with nelfinavir in HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of saquinavir (SQV) hard gel when administered alone and in combination with nelfinavir (NLF) to HIV-positive patients. DESIGN: Six patients receiving triple therapy (dual nucleoside plus SQV 600 mg three times daily) were studied. On the first study day blood samples were drawn for assay of SQV. Prior to the second study day, patients received their usual medication plus NLF 750 mg three times daily for 2 days. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at times 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after dosing on study days 1 and 2. Following centrifugation, separated plasma was heated at 58 degrees C for at least 30 min to inactivate HIV and stored at -80 degrees C until analysis using high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The geometric mean Cmax and AUC0-8 h on the first study day were 253 ng/ml (range, < 25-1200 ng/ml) and 1106 ng/ml.h (range, < 100-3479 ng/ml.h), respectively, and on the second study day were 1204 ng/ml (range, 379-2755 ng/ml) and 5472 ng/ml.h (range, 1434-12,538 ng/ml.h), respectively. The geometric mean ratio for Cmax was 4.75 and for AUC0-8 h was 4.94. CONCLUSIONS: NLF increases the oral bioavailability of SQV (hard gel) approximately fivefold. For some patients the addition of NLF to SQV will increase the drug levels from subtherapeutic to the therapeutic range. In one of our patients the addition of NLF resulted in SQV levels that were much higher than previous work suggests are necessary for maximum antiviral effect. The variability in SQV concentrations both at baseline and following addition of NLF suggest that dosing may best be adjusted by individual therapeutic drug monitoring.

Adult↗

The pharmacokinetics of combination therapy with nelfinavir plus nevirapine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of nelfinavir (NFV) administered alone and in combination with nevirapine (NVP) to HIV-positive patients. DESIGN: Seven patients with advanced HIV disease received dual nucleoside analogues in addition to NFV (750 mg three times daily) and subsequently NVP (200 mg daily for 2 weeks followed by 200 mg twice daily) as salvage therapy. On the first study day (day 3), blood samples were taken for assay of NFV. The second study day followed the introduction of NVP for 3 weeks. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 h after dosing on both study days. Separated plasma was heated to 58 degrees C for 30 min to inactivate HIV and stored at -80 degrees C until analysis by high performance liquid chromatography for both NFV and NVP. RESULTS: The geometric mean NFV area under the concentration-time curve to 8 h (AUC0-8h) was 23.4 microg x h/ml (range, 13.5-49.2) and 11.6 microg x h/ml (range, 6.6-23.2) on the first and second study days, respectively. The geometric mean ratio was 0.49 (95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.72; P = 0.016). This represented a 50% reduction in plasma NFV concentrations. Maximum and minimum concentrations were also reduced during NVP therapy (from 4.4 to 2.5 microg/ml and from 1.7 to 0.8 microg/ml, respectively). Time to maximum concentration was reduced from 4 to 2 h. NVP concentrations were determined with a maximum concentration of 5.4 microg/ml at 4 h. CONCLUSIONS: NVP is currently being used in combination therapy with protease inhibitors for antiretroviral-experienced patients in the setting of treatment failure. This study demonstrates that when patients are coadministered NVP there is a 50% reduction in the plasma AUC of NFV. Although the mean trough concentrations of NFV remained above the stated minimum effective concentration of 0.4 microg/ml, there is nevertheless concern that some patients will fall below this value when NVP is added to treatment regimens. In the absence of therapeutic drug monitoring we suggest that an increase in the standard NFV dosage of 750 mg three times daily will be required to ensure satisfactory NFV plasma concentrations, thereby maintaining antiviral efficacy.

Adult↗

The effects of cannabinoids on the pharmacokinetics of indinavir and nelfinavir.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of cannabinoids for appetite stimulation and the management of wasting and antiretroviral side-effects has become a common practice in the care of HIV-infected individuals. We present pharmacokinetic data from a randomized placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the metabolic effects of smoked marijuana and dronabinol in HIV-infected patients receiving indinavir (IDV) or nelfinavir (NFV). METHODS: Subjects on stable regimens containing IDV 800 mg every 8 h (n = 28) or NFV 750 mg three time a day (n = 34) were randomized to one of three treatment arms: 3.95% THC marijuana cigarettes, dronabinol 2.5 mg capsules or placebo capsules administered three times daily. Serial blood sampling was performed at baseline and on day 14 of treatment. The changes in NFV and IDV pharmacokinetics were measured as the median percentage change from baseline. RESULTS: At day 14, the 8-h area under the curve (AUC(8)) changed by -10.2% (P = 0.15), maximum concentration (C(max)) by -17.4% (P = 0.46), and minimum concentration (C(min)) by -12.2% (P = 0.28) for patients in the NFV marijuana arm (n = 11). Similar decreases had occurred by day 14 among patients in the IDV marijuana arm (n = 9): AUC8 had changed by -14.5% (P = 0.074), C(max) by -14.1% (P = 0.039), and C(min) by -33.7% (P = 0.65). CONCLUSION: Despite a statistically significant decrease in C(max) of IDV in the marijuana arm, the magnitude of changes in IDV and NFV pharmacokinetic parameters in the marijuana arm are likely to have no short-term clinical consequence. The use of marijuana or dronabinol is unlikely to impact antiretroviral efficacy.

Adult↗

Virologic response to nelfinavir-based regimens: pharmacokinetics and drug resistance mutations (VIRAPHAR study).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) mutations, and pharmacokinetic parameters on virological responses to nelfinavir (NFV)-containing highly active antiretroviral therapy. DESIGN: Naive or antiretroviral-experienced HIV-1-infected subjects were included in a non-randomized, observational cohort study and received two nucleoside RT inhibitors + NFV (750 mg three times per day or 1250 mg twice per day). Virologic success was defined as a virus load < 50 copies/ml for > 6 months. METHODS: RT and protease genes were sequenced at baseline and at the time of virological failure. Plasma NFV trough concentration (Cmin), maximum concentration (Cmax), and AUC0-tau at steady-state were subjected to population pharmacokinetic analysis. RESULTS: Patients (n = 154) enrolled between November 1998 and February 2000 started a twice per day (n = 84) or three times per day (n = 70) NFV-based regimen as first- (n = 48) or second-line therapy when protease inhibitor-naive (n = 64) or -experienced (n = 42). Median follow-up duration was 16 months. Virologic failure occurred in 88 patients. No significant differences were observed between twice per day and three times per day regimens. According to multivariate analysis, NFV Cmin and Cmax, CD4 cell count, number of baseline RT + protease gene mutations, D67N, M184V, T215F/Y in RT, and M36I in protease, were independent factors that were significantly predictive of failure. At failure, L10I, D30N, M36I, V77I, N88S/D or L90M protease mutations had emerged since baseline. Pharmacokinetic parameters were similar in patients with or without emergence of these neo-mutations. The more discriminating NFV Cmin efficacy-threshold was estimated to be 1 mg/l. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the association among individual pharmacokinetic parameters, genotype pattern and virological response to NFV-containing regimens.

Adult↗

Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the analysis of amprenavir, efavirenz, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir and its active metabolite (M8), ritonavir, and saquinavir in heparinized human plasma.

The increasing interest in applying therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to antiretroviral therapy is related to the observed interindividual variation in antiretroviral pharmacokinetics that results in a wide range of drug exposure from fixed-dosing regimens and the rapid evolution in the availability of phenotypic assays that generate a target 50% inhibitory concentration (e.g., IC(50)) as a basis for adjusting individual antiretroviral dosages. To facilitate the application of TDM, a method for the simultaneous determination of eight species has been developed. This method is used to quantitate efavirenz and the following protease inhibitors: amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir and its active metabolite (M8), ritonavir, and saquinavir. The method using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was validated. Detection is effected using a photodiode-array detector (PDA) scanning at four different wavelengths. This method allows for detection of all analytes to a lower limit of quantitation of 0.1 to 0.2 microg/mL with an interday variation in CV ranging from 3.5% to 10.4%. The method is being applied to a TDM program that is currently being implemented in the authors' laboratory.

Alkynes↗

Clinical use of a simultaneous HPLC assay for indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, and nelfinavir in children and adults.

Protease inhibitor (PI) monitoring may improve the care of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients; however, pediatric data are limited. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay developed for the simultaneous determination of indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and nelfinavir in 0.2 mL of plasma was used to quantify PI concentrations in HIV patients. The reliability, sensitivity, and specificity of the assay were first verified in stored adult samples. Later, blood collected prospectively from patients aged 2.9 to 42 years of age (10 adults aged 24 to 42 and 15 children aged 2.9 to 18 years) was tested. Nondetectable (below 25-50 ng/mL) concentrations (ND) were found in 33% of adult samples and 24% of pediatric samples. Four patients taking from 13.7 to 28 mg/kg/d of ritonavir (mean of 21.3) had concentrations ranging from ND to 11.4 microg/mL, quite different from predicted values. Correctable, important clinical problems including drug-drug interactions, drug administration problems, and confirmed noncompliance were identified and corrected using modern therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) techniques. Routine PI monitoring and interpretation (TDM) could improve the care of adult and pediatric HIV patients; especially in patients who do not respond as expected to treatment, develop viral resistance or toxicity, and have questionable compliance.

Adolescent↗

Clinical use of a simultaneous HPLC assay for indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir and nelfinavir in children and adults.

PROTEASE INHIBITOR TDM: This study examines the importance of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of protease inhibitors (PI) in adults and children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Pediatric patients were included because information in this population is limited. A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay measured indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir and nelfinavir simultaneously in 0.2 mL of plasma. Initially, the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the assay were verified in stored samples of plasma from adult patients who had been receiving PIs. Non-detectable concentrations (ND) were <25-50 ng/mL. In 96 out of 293 stored samples from adult patients, selected randomly, concentrations of PIs were ND. In a second prospective study of 10 adults (9 mothers and one father, aged 24-42 years) and 15 children (2.9-18 years) ND levels of PI were observed frequently (27% or 4 out of 15 pediatric subjects). In the latter study, drug-drug interactions, dosing errors, noncompliance and other important problems were identified and corrected. Routine monitoring and interpretation of PI concentrations (TDM) may improve the management of adult and pediatric patients infected with HIV, especially in those who fail to respond, develop adverse effects or viral resistance, or lack compliance.

Adult↗

Therapeutic drug monitoring of nelfinavir in pregnancy: a case report.

One of the indications for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may be the use of antiretroviral agents during pregnancy. We report on a case in which repeated low plasma levels of nelfinavir were observed. After an initial good virologic response, virologic failure appeared to occur, and dose modifications guided by TDM were performed. Although a causal relationship cannot be proven, viral load became undetectable after our interventions. A healthy uninfected daughter was born.

Adult↗

Safety, tolerability, and antiretroviral effects of ritonavir-nelfinavir combination therapy administered for 48 weeks.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and anti-HIV activity of ritonavir-nelfinavir (RTV-NFV). DESIGN: Single-site, open-label, nonrandomized, multiple-dose trial of RTV combined with two doses of NFV in protease inhibitor (PI)-naive, HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Mean baseline HIV RNA was 39,500 copies/ml; mean baseline CD4 count was 323 cells/mm3. All patients received RTV at a dosage of 400 mg twice daily. Cohorts I (N = 10) and II (N = 10) received NFV at a dosage of 500 mg and 750 mg twice daily, respectively, for the initial 12 weeks of the study before allowing intensification with reverse transcriptase inhibitors. RESULTS: The commonest effects of RTV-NFV therapy were study drug-related moderate-to-severe diarrhea (9 patients in cohorts I and II) and drug-related moderate-to-severe nausea (4 patients in cohorts I and II). HIV RNA was suppressed in a biphasic manner. At 48 weeks in cohort I, mean HIV RNA reduction was 2.82 log10 copies/ml (standard error [SE] =.61; p =.001; N = 4); mean CD4 cell count increase was 236 cells/mm3 (SE = 67.1; p =.006; N = 4). In cohort II, mean HIV RNA reduction at Week 48 was 2.21 log10 copies/ml (SE =.430; p =. 001; N = 8); mean CD4 cell count increase was 120 cells/mm3 (SE = 47. 5; p =.03; n = 8). In cohort I patients, 2 of 4 completing Week 48 had HIV RNA <20 copies/ml; and 3 of 4 had HIV RNA <400 copies/ml. In cohort II, 2 of 8 patients completing Week 48 had HIV RNA <20 copies/ml and 4 of 8 had HIV RNA <400 copies/ml. In addition, 3 patients in cohort I withdrew because of virologic failure not thought to be related to poor compliance. Moreover, 15 patients elected to add new reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) after week 12. CONCLUSIONS: RTV-NFV with concomitant reverse transcriptase inhibitors is a potential dual-PI option for PI-naive patients.

Adult↗