Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - October 24, 2000
"Integrating information about drug levels into the overall HIV management package is the next important step on the road to individualized and optimized treatment," commented Dr. Richard Hoetelmans, Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. "The availability of this high quality test is very welcome."
A major issue is that the MEC is drug-specific and varies from patient to patient, due to the development of drug resistance. The use of resistance information (the amount of each drug required to inhibit viral replication in an individual patient) and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) will enable more informed and individualized treatment decision-making and ultimately improved outcome.
VircoPK(TM) is based on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and is more accurate and reliable than most of the other currently available assays, which are based on high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The assay is run in Virco's laboratories using a small blood sample (200 microliter). It can be completed and the result provided within two weeks. The TDM service is currently being provided for clinical trial purposes but will be available for use in routine clinical practice in early 2001.
"We are very pleased to be providing this, the latest HIV treatment decision-making tool," commented Neil Graham M.D., Vice President Clinical Research and Medical Affairs for Virco. "TDM fits very well with our comprehensive HIV drug resistance monitoring services. Ultimately the use of TDM in conjunction with resistance information will enable clinicians to tailor and monitor their patients' treatment to yield the maximum benefit."
Virco is a multinational biotechnology company with operating subsidiaries in the United States, Belgium, The United Kingdom and Ireland. It applies the most advanced technologies in molecular biology, automation, ultra high-throughput screening and electronic data processing to the diagnosis and management of HIV, other infectious diseases and cancer. Virco is the only company to provide genotyping, phenotyping and the new, unique VirtualPhenotype(TM). The company believes it provides the most sophisticated and comprehensive portfolio of phenotyping and genotyping decision support tools for physicians treating HIV infected patients. Virco sells its testing services via Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp), SRL in Japan, as well as directly to HIV/AIDS centers in Europe, Canada and Australia. Virco has also recently announced a two-year agreement with Gilead for the promotion of Virco Resistance Monitoring Services to US HIV prescribers by the Gilead sales force.
For further information, please visit Virco's website: http://www.vircolab.com.
SOURCE Virco Web Site: http://www.vircolab.com
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