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Relationship between adherence and the development of resistance in antiretroviral-naive, HIV-1-infected patients receiving lopinavir/ritonavir or nelfinavir.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between adherence to protease inhibitor (PI)-based therapy and resistance development have not been fully characterized. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled study of lopinavir/ritonavir versus nelfinavir, each administered with stavudine and lamivudine, in 653 antiretroviral-naive, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients. Relationships between adherence and probability of resistance development were evaluated by local linear regression or logistic regression. RESULTS: A higher risk of detectable HIV-1 RNA loads after week 24 was associated with lower adherence (odds ratio [OR], 1.08 per 1% decrease in adherence [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.05-1.10]; P<.001) and nelfinavir use (OR, 2.4 vs. lopinavir/ritonavir [95% CI, 1.6-3.6]; P<.001). Among all nelfinavir-treated patients, a bell-shaped relationship between adherence and the risk of nelfinavir resistance was observed, with a maximum probability of 20% at 85%-90% adherence. No lopinavir resistance was observed. A bell-shaped relationship was also observed for the probability of lamivudine resistance, with a maximum probability of 50% at 75%-80% adherence to nelfinavir and of 15% at 80%-85% adherence to lopinavir/ritonavir. CONCLUSIONS: Bell-shaped relationships between adherence and resistance were observed. Irrespective of adherence level, the risk of detectable HIV-1 RNA loads or of PI or lamivudine resistance was significantly higher in nelfinavir-treated patients than in lopinavir/ritonavir-treated patients.

Double-Blind Method↗

Liver injury and changes in hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA load associated with protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy for treatment-naive HCV-HIV-coinfected patients: lopinavir-ritonavir versus nelfinavir.

BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated with transaminase and HCV viral load flares. Previous studies have included highly variable antiretroviral regimens. We compared effects of 2 protease inhibitor-based regimens on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and HCV loads in HCV-HIV-coinfected patients initiating HAART. METHODS: Seventy HIV-infected patients with positive baseline results of HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay from a treatment trial comparing lopinavir-ritonavir with nelfinavir were evaluated during a 48-week period. HCV and HIV titers were analyzed at baseline, at weeks 24 and 48 of treatment, and during flares in the ALT level of >5 times the upper limit of normal. RESULTS: A total of 57 of 70 patients tested positive for HCV RNA at baseline. HCV titers for patients in lopinavir-ritonavir and nelfinavir groups, respectively, were as follows: baseline, 6.07 and 6.22 log IU/mL; week 24 of treatment, 6.68 and 6.48 log IU/mL; and week 48 of treatment, 6.32 and 6.44 log IU/mL. Of patients with a CD4+ cell count of <100 cells/mm3 at baseline, 5 of 11 in the nelfinavir group and 0 of 10 in the lopinavir-ritonavir group had an increase in the HCV load of >0.5 log IU/mL from baseline to week 48. The mean ALT level increased by 45 U/L at 24 weeks and 18 U/L at 48 weeks in the nelfinavir group but decreased by 18 U/L at 24 weeks and 7 U/L at 48 weeks in the lopinavir-ritonavir group. Eight patients in the nelfinavir group and 2 patients in the lopinavir-ritonavir group had grade 3 or 4 flares in the ALT level. CONCLUSIONS: HAART initiation is associated with increased HCV loads and ALT levels. A low baseline CD4+ cell count is associated with persistent increases in the HCV RNA load in nelfinavir-treated patients. These results warrant careful interpretation of abnormalities in the ALT load after HAART initiation in HCV-HIV-coinfected patients to prevent premature discontinuation of treatment.

Adult↗

Plasma levels of indinavir and nelfinavir at time of virologic response may have a different impact on the risk of further virologic failure in HIV-infected patients.

Indinavir and nelfinavir plasma levels were studied in 407 patients having plasma HIV RNA <500 copies/mL after 4 months of treatment with these drugs. For each drug, an observed/predicted (O/P) ratio was calculated between individual and mean time-adjusted population plasma drug levels. The relationship between the O/P ratio and the risk of rebound of plasma HIV RNA >500 copies/mL beyond month 4 was studied using Cox proportional hazard models. Median follow-up was 20 months. There was no association between indinavir plasma levels and risk of virologic rebound, whereas low nelfinavir + M8 (active nelfinavir metabolite) plasma levels were associated with a higher risk of virologic rebound. In multivariate analysis, the adjusted relative hazard of virologic rebound for patients with an O/P ratio of nelfinavir + M8 metabolite <0.8 compared with others was 2.2 (P = 0.01). In some patients, plasma levels of nelfinavir sufficient to achieve early viral response may not be sufficient to maintain it in the long term. This may be related to insufficient compliance with dietary recommendations. Monitoring of nelfinavir plasma levels thus seems useful, even in patients having early virologic response.

Biotransformation↗

An MDR1-3435 variant is associated with higher plasma nelfinavir levels and more rapid virologic response in HIV-1 infected children.

OBJECTIVE: The multidrug-resistance transporter gene (MDR1) encoding for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and genes encoding for isoenzymes of cytochrome P450 (CYP) have an important role in transport and metabolism of antiretroviral agents. This research examined the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of MDR1 and CYP genes on nelfinavir and efavirenz pharmacokinetics and the response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-1 infected children. METHODS: Seventy-one HIV-1-infected children from PACTG 382 receiving nelfinavir, efavirenz and one or two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors had genomic DNA from PBMC evaluated for MDR1 and CYP SNP by real-time PCR. Plasma drug concentrations, CD4 lymphocyte counts and HIV-1 RNA were measured during HAART. RESULTS: The frequencies of C/C, C/T and T/T genotypes in the MDR1-3435-C-->T polymorphisms were 44% (n = 31), 46% (n = 33) and 10% (n = 7), respectively. Ninety-one percent of children with the C/T genotype reached plasma HIV-1 RNA < 400 copies/ml by week 8 compared to 59% of children with the C/C genotype (P = 0.01). Children with the C/T genotypes had higher 8 h postdose concentration (P = 0.02) and lower clearance rate (P = 0.04) for nelfinavir compared to those with the C/C genotype. The seven children with the T/T genotype had nelfinavir pharmacokinetics and virologic response similar to those with the C/C genotype. No compensatory polymorphisms were observed between MDR1 and CYP genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 infected children with the MDR1-3435-C/T genotype had more rapid virologic responses to HAART at week 8 with higher plasma nelfinavir concentrations compared to those with the C/C genotype. These findings suggest that P-gp may play an important role in the pharmacokinetics and virologic response to HAART containing nelfinavir.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗

Pharmacokinetic interaction between nelfinavir and pravastatin in HIV-seronegative volunteers: ACTG Study A5108.

BACKGROUND: Nelfinavir, an HIV protease inhibitor with numerous drug-drug interactions, is associated with dyslipidemia. Pravastatin is the preferred statin prescribed for HIV-associated dyslipidemia. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of nelfinavir on pravastatin pharmacokinetics. DESIGN: Open-label study in healthy HIV-seronegative adults conducted at the AIDS Clinical Trials Group sites in the United States. METHODS: Subjects received pravastatin 40 mg daily and underwent intensive sampling for pharmacokinetics on day 3. Subjects took only nelfinavir 1250 mg twice daily on days 4-12. On days 13-15, subjects continued nelfinavir and reinitiated pravastatin. Plasma samples were collected over 24 h for the calculation of pravastatin area under the concentration-time curve for 0-24 h on days 3 and 16. RESULTS: Data from 14 subjects with complete pharmacokinetic samples were available for analysis. The median within-subject percentage change in pravastatin AUC was a decrease of 46.5%. Pravastatin maximum plasma concentrations were also lower when pravastatin was administered with nelfinavir. Median values for the maximum plasma concentrations were 27.9 and 12.4 ng/ml for days 3 and 16, respectively, and the median within-subject decrease was 40.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of pravastatin and nelfinavir led to a substantial reduction in pravastatin plasma concentrations. Higher doses of pravastatin may need to be prescribed in order to achieve optimal lipid-lowering activity.

Adult↗

Effect of nelfinavir on insulin metabolism, proteasome activity and protein degradation in HepG2 cells.

HIV-1 protease inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of HIV infection, but their use has been associated with lipodystrophy and insulin resistance. One suggestion for this has been the inhibition of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). We have previously demonstrated that insulin, through IDE, can inhibit the proteasome, thus decreasing cytosolic protein degradation. We examined whether the protease inhibitor nelfinavir inhibited IDE and its effect on protein degradation both in vitro and in whole cells. 125I-Insulin degradation was measured by trichloroacetic acid precipitation. Proteasome activities were measured using fluorogenic peptide substrates. Cellular protein degradation was measured by prelabelling cells with 3H-leucine and determining the release of TCA-soluble radioactivity. Nelfinavir inhibited IDE in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibition at the maximal concentration tested, 100 microm. Similarly, the chymotrypsin-like and trypsin-like activities of the proteasome were decreased with an IC50 of approximately 3 microm. The ability of insulin to inhibit the proteasome was abrogated by nelfinavir. Treatment of HepG2 cells with 50 microm nelfinavir decreased 125I-insulin degradation and increased cell-associated radioactivity. Insulin alone maximally decreased protein degradation by 15%. Addition of 50 microm nelfinavir inhibited cellular protein degradation by 14% and blunted the effect of insulin. These data show that nelfinavir inhibits IDE, decreases insulin's ability to inhibit protein degradation via the proteasome and provides another possible mechanism for the insulin resistance seen in protease inhibitor-treated HIV patients.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

Characterization of nelfinavir binding to plasma proteins and the lack of drug displacement interactions.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics of the binding of nelfinavir and active M8 to alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) and human serum albumin (HSA), and to examine the displacement effects of drugs binding extensively to AAG (ritonavir and saquinavir) or to HSA (salicylic acid and valproic acid). METHODS: Free drugs were separated by equilibrium dialysis after incubation with human plasma or purified plasma proteins and after co-incubation with potential displacers. Association constants were estimated from double-reciprocal plots of the data. RESULTS: Nelfinavir and M8 free fractions [fractions of unbound drug (fus)] were 0.42+/-0.08% (mean+/-standard deviation) and 0.64+/-0.07%, respectively. For the two analytes, respectively, association constants were 7.25 x 10(7)/m and 3.33 x 10(7)/m for AAG and 1.11 x 10(6)/m and 7.92 x 10(5)/m for HSA. Nelfinavir fu in an AAG solution was significantly (P < 0.01) increased by the addition of ritonavir or saquinavir, whereas it was unaltered by addition of these drugs to whole plasma. Similarly, fu in an HSA solution was significantly increased (P < 0.01) by the addition of salicylic acid or valproic acid, whereas there was no difference in the free fraction in plasma. CONCLUSIONS: The affinity of nelfinavir for human plasma proteins was higher than that of M8, and both nelfinavir and M8 showed higher affinity to AAG than to HSA. The free fraction of nelfinavir was not affected by drugs that bind extensively to AAG or albumin when these drugs were added to whole plasma in combination, suggesting a compensatory effect of alternate binding proteins.

Binding, Competitive↗

Activities of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor nelfinavir mesylate in combination with reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors against acute HIV-1 infection in vitro.

Nelfinavir mesylate (formerly AG1343) is a potent and selective, nonpeptidic inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease that was discovered by protein structure-based design methodologies. We evaluated the antiviral and cytotoxic effects of two-drug combinations of nelfinavir with the clinically approved antiretroviral therapeutics zidovudine (ZDV), lamivudine (3TC), dideoxycytidine (ddC; zalcitabine), stavudine (d4T), didanosine (ddI), indinavir, saquinavir, and ritonavir and a three-drug combination of nelfinavir with ZDV and 3TC against an acute HIV-1 strain RF infection of CEM-SS cells in vitro. Quantitative assessment of drug interaction was evaluated by a universal response surface approach (W. R. Greco, G. Bravo, and J. C. Parsons, Pharm. Rev. 47:331-385, 1995) and by the method of M. N. Prichard and C. Shipman (Antiviral Res. 14:181-206, 1990). Both analytical methods yielded similar results and showed that the two-drug combinations of nelfinavir with the reverse transcriptase inhibitors ZDV, 3TC, ddI, d4T, and ddC and the three-drug combination with ZDV and 3TC resulted in additive to statistically significant synergistic interactions. In a similar manner, the combination of nelfinavir with the three protease inhibitors resulted in additive (ritonavir and saquinavir) to slightly antagonistic (indinavir) interactions. In all combinations, minimal cellular cytotoxicity was observed with any drug alone and in combination. These results suggest that administration of combinations of the appropriate doses of nelfinavir with other currently approved antiretroviral therapeutic agents in vivo may result in enhanced antiviral activity with no associated increase in cellular cytotoxicity.

Cell Survival↗

Pharmacokinetic interactions between nelfinavir and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors atorvastatin and simvastatin.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are effective agents in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides and are being used by human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients to treat the lipid elevation that may be associated with antiretroviral therapy. Many HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and protease inhibitors are metabolized by the same cytochrome P450 enzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4). In addition, many protease inhibitors are potent inhibitors of CYP3A4. Therefore, coadministration of these two classes of drugs may cause significant drug interactions. This open-label, multiple-dose study was performed to determine the interactions between nelfinavir, a protease inhibitor, and two HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, atorvastatin and simvastatin, in healthy volunteers. Thirty-two healthy subjects received either atorvastatin calcium (10 mg once a day) or simvastatin (20 mg once a day) for the first 14 days of the study. Nelfinavir (1,250 mg twice a day) was added on days 15 to 28. Pharmacokinetic assessment was performed on days 14 and 28. The study drugs were well tolerated. Nelfinavir increased the steady-state area under the plasma concentration-time curve during one dosing period (AUC(tau)) of atorvastatin 74% and the maximum concentration (C(max)) of atorvastatin 122% and increased the AUC(tau) of simvastatin 505% and the C(max) of simvastatin 517%. Neither atorvastatin nor simvastatin appeared to alter the pharmacokinetics of nelfinavir. It is recommended that coadministration of simvastatin with nelfinavir should be avoided, whereas atorvastatin should be used with nelfinavir with caution.

Adult↗

Cerebrospinal fluid HIV-1 RNA, intrathecal immunoactivation, and drug concentrations after treatment with a combination of saquinavir, nelfinavir, and two nucleoside analogues: the M61022 study.

BACKGROUND: The way various antiretroviral drugs and drug combinations affect HIV-1 infection in the central nervous system is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) steady-state concentrations of saquinavir and nelfinavir in relation to plasma concentrations, and to study their effect in combination with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on CSF viral loads, intrathecal immunoactivation, and blood-brain barrier integrity. METHODS: Paired CSF and plasma samples from 8 antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1 infected patients starting combination therapy with saquinavir, nelfinavir, and two nucleoside analogues were collected prior to treatment, and again after approximately 12 and 48 weeks of antiretroviral therapy. Additional plasma samples were taken at weeks 2, 4, 8, 24, and 36. The concentrations of protease inhibitors were analysed, as were levels of HIV-1 RNA, CD4+ T-cell count, beta2-microglobulin, neopterin, albumin ratio, IgG index, and monocytic cell count. RESULTS: None of the patients in the study presented with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL in CSF or plasma prior to treatment, compared to 5/7 at the end of the study. Signs of cell-mediated intrathecal immunoactivation, measured by neopterin and beta2-microglobulin, decreased significantly in both CSF and serum, although only 1/7 reached normal CSF neopterin levels after 48 weeks of treatment. There was no significant reduction of albumin ratio, IgG index or CSF monocytic cell count. Saquinavir median (range) concentrations were < 2.5 (< 2.5-96.0) nM unbound in plasma, and < 2.5 (< 2.5-9.0) nM total in CSF. Nelfinavir median (range) concentrations were 10.0 (< 2.0-31.0) nM unbound in plasma, and < 2.0 (< 2.0-23.0) nM total in CSF. Saquinavir and nelfinavir were detectable in 7/15 and 9/15 CSF samples, respectively. CONCLUSION: Saquinavir and nelfinavir, in combination with two NRTIs, decrease the CSF viral load and, to a lesser extent, intrathecal immunoactivation. We found reasonably high CSF concentrations of nelfinavir, but suboptimal concentrations of saquinavir.

Adult↗

Prevalence of HIV protease mutations on failure of nelfinavir-containing HAART: a retrospective analysis of four clinical studies and two observational cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Both D30N and L90M in HIV-1 protease are primary resistance mutations that emerge under nelfinavir drug pressure. Although D30N confers little or no cross-resistance to other protease inhibitors (PIs) and has been shown to allow effective substitution of a second PI, L90M with secondary mutations is involved in broad cross-resistance to the class. Although L90M has been observed rarely to date under nelfinavir selection, data on the relative incidence of these two mutations on failure of first-line nelfinavir HAART are sparse. METHOD: We performed a systematic review of HIV-1 protease genotypes from four clinical trials and two observational cohorts in which PI-naive patients failed to achieve or sustain full virological suppression on a nelfinavir-based first HAART regime. RESULTS: Wild-type protease was observed in 61.9% of 189 isolates and secondary PI mutations were observed in only <3%. D30N and L90M (+/- secondary mutations) occurred in 30.7% and 4.8%, respectively. Only one sample displayed both mutations (0.5%). CONCLUSION: Almost 95% of failures on first-line nelfinavir-based triple-drug HAART occur without PI mutations or with D30N as the primary protease change. L90M occurs in only 5% of cases. These results are of significance for determining the feasibility of initiating a second PI after first-line nelfinavir failure.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Nelfinavir mesylate.

Nelfinavir is an inhibitor of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease, with good in vivo activity in HIV-infected patients. Nelfinavir is used in combination with other antiretroviral medications as part of a potent antiretroviral regimen. When used in this manner, 50-75% of patients who are naïve to antiretroviral therapy have plasma HIV RNA levels below the limit of detection (< 400 copies) after 12 months of treatment. This use of nelfinavir in combination regimens is associated with an increase of almost 200/mm3 CD4+ lymphocytes at 12 months of therapy. Initial trials and clinical experience indicate that nelfinavir is equipotent to other potent protease inhibitors (PIs). The drug is well-tolerated, with mild diarrhoea being the most common side effect in 12-20% of patients. Virologic failure of nelfinavir is associated with genotypic and phenotypic changes that have a unique pattern that may retain susceptibility to other PIs. The results of small, non-controlled trials suggest these failures can be rescued with a second protease-based regimen. Due to the above characteristics, nelfinavir has become the most frequently prescribed first line PI.

Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic↗

Nelfinavir.

Nelfinavir is a protease inhibitor which shows good inhibitory activity against HIV-1. The pattern of HIV-1 resistance to nelfinavir is different from that seen with other protease inhibitors. In healthy male volunteers, administration of single 400 and 800mg doses of nelfinavir with food resulted in area under the plasma concentration-time curve values that were 27 to 50% higher than those achieved in fasted volunteers who received the same doses of the drug. Reductions in plasma HIV RNA to below detectable levels (detection limit 500 copies/ml) were achieved in some patients (number not reported) after 28 days' treatment with nelfinavir 500, 600 or 750 mg twice daily, or 500, 750 or 1000 mg 3 times daily. Combination therapy with nelfinavir and stavudine produced greater reductions in plasma HIV RNA levels that stavudine monotherapy in patients who had not previously received stavudine treatment; mean increases in CD4+ cell counts were also greater in the combination treatment group than in monotherapy recipients. Plasma HIV RNA decreased to below detectable levels in 11 of 12 patients with early onset HIV infection who received a triple regimen of nelfinavir, zidovudine and lamivudine for 16 weeks.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Nelfinavir: a review of its use in the management of HIV infection.

Nelfinavir (Viracept) is an orally administered protease inhibitor. In combination with other antiretroviral drugs (usually nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs]), nelfinavir produces substantial and sustained reductions in viral load in patients with HIV infection. Nelfinavir may be used in the treatment of adults, adolescents and children aged >or=2 years with HIV infection. It can also be used in pregnancy. Resistance to nelfinavir may develop, but the most common mutation (D30N, appearing mainly in HIV-1 subtype B) does not confer resistance to other protease inhibitors, thereby conserving these agents for later use. Although less effective than lopinavir/ritonavir, the preferred first-line treatment in US guidelines, nelfinavir is positioned as an alternative agent for the treatment of adults and adolescents with HIV infection and is an option for those unable to tolerate other protease inhibitors. Nelfinavir also has a role in the management of pregnant patients as well as paediatric patients with HIV infection.

Anti-Retroviral Agents↗

The HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir induces insulin resistance and increases basal lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

HIV protease inhibitors (HPIs) are potent antiretroviral agents clinically used in the management of HIV infection. Recently, HPI therapy has been linked to the development of a metabolic syndrome in which adipocyte insulin resistance appears to play a major role. In this study, we assessed the effect of nelfinavir on glucose uptake and lipolysis in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. An 18-h exposure to nelfinavir resulted in an impaired insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and activation of basal lipolysis. Impaired insulin stimulation of glucose up take occurred at nelfinavir concentrations >10 micromol/l (EC(50) = 20 micromol/l) and could be attributed to impaired GLUT4 translocation. Basal glycerol and free fatty acid (FFA) release were significantly enhanced with as low as 5 micromol/l nelfinavir, displaying fivefold stimulation of FFA release at 10 micromol/l. Yet, the antilipolytic action of insulin was preserved at this concentration. Potential underlying mechanisms for these metabolic effects included both impaired insulin stimulation of protein kinase B Ser 473 phosphorylation with preserved insulin receptor substrate tyrosine phosphorylation and decreased expression of the lipolysis regulator perilipin. Troglitazone pre- and cotreatment with nelfinavir partly protected the cells from the increase in basal lipolysis, but it had no effect on the impairment in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake induced by this HPI. This study demonstrates that nelfinavir induces insulin resistance and activates basal lipolysis in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, providing potential cellular mechanisms that may contribute to altered adipocyte metabolism in treated HIV patients.

3T3 Cells↗

[Impairment of IRS-2 signaling in rat insulinoma INS-1 cells by nelfinavir].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether HIV-1 protease inhibitor nelfinavir alters the insulin stimulated phosphorylation of insulin signaling parameters in rat insulinoma INS-1 cells. METHODS: INS-1 cells were incubated with nelfinavir for 48 h and stimulated with 100 nmol/L insulin for 2 min. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis of the insulin stimulated insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1,-2 and Akt-Thr(308) phosphorylation were performed on cell lysates. Cytotoxic effects of nelfinavir were measured by cell count with trypan blue and MTT reduction test. RESULT: Nelfinavir decreased insulin stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-2 and Akt-Thr(308) in a dose-dependent manner; for 10 micromol/L of nelfinavir, the decrease was 52% and 55%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Treatment with nelfinavir might impair IRS-2-mediated signaling in pancreatic beta cells.

Animals↗

Simultaneous HPLC assay for quantification of indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir in human plasma.

BACKGROUND: HIV protease inhibitors are recommended as part of combination antiretroviral therapy. Dual protease inhibitor therapy is also being used clinically. Consequently, a simultaneous assay for indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir was developed. METHODS: Indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir were extracted from plasma (250 microL) with methyl-t-butyl ether at basic pH after addition of an internal standard (A-86093). The compounds were separated on a Keystone BetaBasic C4 column (250 x 3 mm i.d.) at 40 degrees C with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-50 mmol/L ammonium formate buffer, pH 4.1 (52:48, by volume) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and the internal standard (A-86093) were detected at 218 nm, and saquinavir was detected at 235 nm. The method was validated by analysis of five triplicate analyses of calibrators along with quality-control samples at three different concentrations prepared in human plasma. RESULTS: The extraction recovery was 87-92%. Within-run accuracy for quality-control samples was 6-8%, with CVs of 2-8%. Limits of quantification were 40-50 microg/L for indinavir, nelfinavir, and ritonavir, and 20 microg/L for saquinavir. Cross-validation with a liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy method for saquinavir and nelfinavir was conducted with patient samples. Regression analysis revealed a good correlation (r(2) >0.94) between methods. Larger variations at concentrations >4000 microg/L were observed with nelfinavir. Interference with drugs commonly used in AIDS patients was not observed. Pharmacokinetic profiles for two patients on dual protease therapy were determined. CONCLUSIONS: A reliable and rugged simultaneous HPLC assay for four HIV protease inhibitors was developed. The assay method is convenient for clinical laboratories involved in therapeutic drug monitoring for HIV protease inhibitors. The assay has enough sensitivity to conduct pharmacokinetic studies in patients taking more than one HIV protease inhibitor along with other antiretroviral medications.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Comparison of dual nucleoside-analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimens with and without nelfinavir in children with HIV-1 who have not previously been treated: the PENTA 5 randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment options for children with HIV-1 are limited. We aimed to compare activity and safety of three dual-nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimens with or without a protease inhibitor in previously untreated children with HIV-1. METHODS: In our multicentre trial, we randomly assigned 36 children to zidovudine and lamivudine, 45 to zidovudine and abacavir, and 47 to lamivudine and abacavir. Children who were symptom-free (n=55) were also randomly assigned to receive nelfinavir or placebo. Children with more advanced disease received open-label nelfinavir (73). Primary endpoints were change in plasma HIV-1 RNA at 24 and 48 weeks for the NRTI comparison and occurrence of serious adverse events for both randomised comparisons. Analyses were by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Children had a median CD4 percentage of 22% (IQR 15-29) and a mean HIV-1 RNA concentration of 5.0 log copies/mL (SD 0.8). One child was lost to follow-up and one died of sepsis. At 48 weeks, in the zidovudine/lamivudine, zidovudine/abacavir, and lamivudine/abacavir groups, mean HIV-1 RNA had decreased by 1.71, 2.19, and 2.63 log copies/mL, respectively (estimated in absence of nelfinavir) (p=0.02 after adjustment for baseline factors). One child had a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir; and three with possible reactions stopped abacavir. There were 24 serious adverse events--six in the symptom-free children (all on nelfinavir), but none were attributed to nelfinavir. INTERPRETATION: Regimens containing abacavir were more effective than zidovudine/lamivudine. Such regimens could be combined with protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for safe and effective treatment of previously untreated children with HIV-1.

Adolescent↗