Lexiva[TM] (Fosamprenavir) approved.On October 20 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the protease inhibitor protease inhibitor (prō`tē-ās'), any of a class of drugs that interfere with replication of the AIDS virus (HIV), by blocking an enzyme (protease) necessary in the late stages of its reproduction. Lexiva (generic name generic name n. 1. The official nonproprietary name of a drug, under which it is licensed and identified by the manufacturer. 2. fosamprenavir, also called 908). Lexiva is converted into amprenavir (Agenerase), a previously approved protease inhibitor, in the body. Lexiva is easier to take than amprenavir because of the smaller pill burden Pill burden is a term that refers to the number of tablets, capsules or other dosage forms that a patient takes on a regular schedule. Higher pill burden decreases compliance with drug therapy, due to the need to take a large quantity of pills on a regular basis. (usually 4 pills a day including the ritonavir ritonavir /ri·to·na·vir/ (ri-to´nah-vir) an HIV protease inhibitor used in treatment of HIV infection and AIDS. ri·ton·a·vir n. , vs. 16 pills a day for Agenerase), and lack of food restrictions. It was developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Persons taking Lexiva should review the safety and other patient information, including dangerous interactions with certain other drugs. Information for patients (and prescribing information for physicians) is at http://www.lexiva,com. For More Information For a brief review by the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. of the pivotal clinical trials, see: http://www.thebody.com/fda/lexiva.html?m18 (or search for Lexiva on http://www.thebody.com) For Glaxo's review, see: http://www.gsk.com/press_archive/press2003/press_10212003a.htm For an extensive review by the AIDS treatment activist organization TAG (Treatment Action Group), supporting approval--but only when Lexiva is "boosted" with a low dose of ritonavir to increase blood levels of Lexiva--see: http://www.aidsintonyc.org/tag/tx/fosamprenavir.html |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion