Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Thursday July 31, 1997 - 12:27 PM EDT
The research suggests that AZT, an agent in the class of drugs called thymidine analogs, is less effective than it might be due to a fundamental flaw in its chemical structure. This flaw prevents AZT from being efficiently metabolized in the body. As a result, less AZT is converted to an active form that is able to attack HIV. Researchers suggest this structural flaw as the explanation for some of the resistance that develops with prolonged AZT use, as well as for some of the side effects associated with AZT.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a draft of "Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents," which underscores the importance of including a thymidine analog in every combination antiretroviral regimen. AZT was the first thymidine analog to be made available to treat HIV disease. A second- generation drug of this same class is d4T, which later was designed to more closely resemble the naturally occurring substance, thymadine. Because of this structural difference, d4T does not have the flaw described in this research. The result is that d4T is more actively metabolized, to a form that makes more drug available to efficiently attack the HIV virus. AZT and d4T, while not taken together, are paired with the non-thymidine analogs, ddI, ddC and 3TC, as cornerstones of combination therapies.
"The use of antiviral therapies makes a tremendous difference in the lives of many people living with HIV disease," stated Cornelius Baker, executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and member of the Panel on Clinical Practices for the Treatment of HIV Infection, which developed the HHS Guidelines. "It is essential that individuals on antiviral therapies continue to take their medications as prescribed, and that they discuss the implications of these findings with their physicians," noted Baker. "This new research provides important information and advances the medical understanding of the treatment of this disease," Baker added.
"It is important that physicians and patients understand and consider the similarities and differences between the available thymidine analogs when making treatment decisions," commented Calvin J. Cohen, M.D., research director, Community Research Initiative of New England. "Several small clinical trials have begun to provide important clinical information comparing AZT and d4T. Additional large-scale studies comparing these two agents in combination with other drugs will help clinicians make treatment decisions in the context of the HHS guidelines. These findings will be particularly important in light of the new research on AZT's structure and its clinical implications."
Since 1983, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) has been at the forefront of giving voice to the often silent lives of people living with AIDS. NAPWA devotes its daily attention to focusing on the ways we can prevent the spread of HIV and working diligently toward finding a cure. NAPWA's mission is broad, but its vision is simple ... a world without AIDS. For more information on NAPWA's treatment education programs or to receive a copy of Do You Know Your Options? An Updated Guide to Antiretroviral Therapies (2nd edition), call 202-898-0414, or write to NAPWA at 1413 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, http://www.thecure.org.
SOURCE: National Association of People With AIDS
Contact: Ernest Hopkins of National Association of People With AIDS, 202-898-0414, or 800-451-1096
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.
970731
PR970723
Copyright © 1997 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1997. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1997. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .