PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Thursday August 7, 1997 - 5:22 PM EDT

The studies involve an experimental antiretroviral drug -- 1592U89 -- which has not yet been licensed by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In the first study, 1592U89 will be offered to those HIV patients for whom other antiretroviral therapy has been ineffective in controlling their disease. Study participants must be:

* referred into the study by their primary care physician

* at least 13 years old (parental consent required for those under 18)

* have a viral load of more than 30,000 copies/mL and a CD4 count of less than 100 cells/mm(3)

* on other drug therapy currently or off drug therapy because of adverse side effects

"This is an 'open label' study," said Frank Rhame, M.D., Clinic 42's research director. "That means that all study participants know that they are getting the experimental drug."

The open label study is sponsored by Glaxo Wellcome (NYSE:GLX), the pharmaceutical company that manufactures 1592U89.

The second study will be a controlled study of 1592U89 for people with HIV who are just beginning antiretroviral therapy. All patients selected for this study will be given zidovudine (AZT) and lamivudine (3TC). They will then be split into two groups with participants in one group being given indinavir (Crixivan), an FDA-approved antiretroviral drug, and the other group getting the experimental 1592U89. Because this is a blind study, none of the participants will know which of the trial drugs they are getting. This controlled trial is being cosponsored by Glaxo Wellcome and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).

For more information about the open label clinical trial, HIV patients should consult their primary care physician. For the controlled study, call Joann Armstrong, RN, Clinic 42's research nurse, at 612-863-5336.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis provides comprehensive health care for more than 180,000 patients and their families each year. Founded more than a century ago, Abbott Northwestern is part of Allina Health System.

Minneapolis-based Allina Health System is an integrated health care system comprised of doctors, hospitals and health plans serving communities throughout Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota. Allina's vision is to be the recognized innovator in improving the health of communities they serve. Allina is a not-for-profit health care system formed in July 1994 by the merger of HealthSpan, a health care delivery system, and Medica, a health plan organization.

SOURCE: Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Copyright (c) 1997/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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