AEGiS-ATDN: Viread Approved! AIDS Treatment Data NetworkImportant note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Viread Approved!

Information Bulletin #14 - March 2002

A new drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV infected individuals. The name of the drug is tenofovir, also known as Viread. Tenofovir is the first nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV. Studies suggest that this drug may have less potential of causing mitochondrial toxicity (damage to cells) than other drugs. A short-term study of treatment naive patients suggested that Viread may have similar potency to the protease inhibitor Norvir (ritonavir). The study was conducted by Martin Markowitz at Aaron Diamond Research Center. The Network has prepared a SimpleFactSheet on the drug, as well as updated fact sheets on Epivir (lamivudine) and Videx EC (ddI), for those who want a brief but comprehensive review of these treatments. Viread is made by Gilead, who has also reported on some encouraging results of their one time HIV drug, adefovir, which is now being tested as a hepatitis B treatment. Viread is expected to be covered by ADAP programs throughout the country , although the ADAP funding crisis may soon make accessing any HIV treatments difficult. For information on ADAP drug coverage contact The Access Project at TheAccessProject@aol.com.
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