Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Tuesday September 19, 2000
The experimental drug, from the protease inhibitor class, is known as BMS 232632.
Scientists said an ongoing mid-stage, or Phase II, test showed the drug candidate also had no impact on cholesterol and levels of triglyceride, a type of fat in the blood, after 24 weeks of treatment in patients who had not taken other medications.
That was also a first for the protease class, they said.
"Based on the Phase II profile of this compound, BMS 232632 dosed once a day continues to demonstrate efficacy at 24 weeks, while maintaining a favorable safety and tolerability profile," said Ian Sanne, Head of the Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Under the study, 98 HIV-positive patients took three dose ranges of BMS 232632 and compared their safety and antiviral activity with another protease inhibitor, nelfinavir, in combination with didanosine and stavudine.
The 24-week results presented at the International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) demonstrated that BMS 232632 reduced viral load to undetectable levels and boosted the count of CD4 cells, proteins the virus attacks, similarly to nelfinavir. Those results occurred even at doses 5-10 fold lower than nelfinavir.
Also presented were 12-week results from a group of more than 300 patients in the same Phase II protocol. In these patients, combination therapy with BMS 232632 also significantly decreased viral load levels and increased CD4 cell counts.
000919
RE000913
Copyright © 2000 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
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, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. 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, 2000. 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. .