Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Los Angeles Times - Wednesday, November 15, 2000
Glaxo already sold an AZT-3TC combination under the brand name Combivir. Adding the third drug to create Trizivir means patients could swallow two pills a day instead of the four needed for Combivir plus abacavir.
However, the three drugs are from an older family of AIDS drugs called nucleoside analogs. The most-recommended AIDS therapy today is a a newer drug, called a protease inhibitor, plus two nucleoside analogs.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a stern warning while approving Trizivir: About 5 percent of people who try abacavir, also known as Ziagen, suffer a serious, sometimes fatal, allergic reaction -so people trying the new Trizivir run the same risk.
Do not take Trizivir if you have experienced hypersensitivity symptoms -fever, skin rash, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or trouble breathing -after taking Ziagen, FDA warned. Patients will receive a symptom warning brochure, and doctors should report hypersensitivity cases by calling 1/800/270 -0425.
Glaxo said Trizivir will be available next month and cost $26.60 a day, the same price as the three drugs separately.
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