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Biotech / Medical : Agouron Pharmaceuticals (AGPH) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David S. who wrote (3302)	12/12/1997 8:28:00 PM
From: JOHN W.	Respond to of 6136

Nelfinavir Boosts Bioavailability Of Saquinavir In HIV-Positive Patients WESTPORT, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Two nucleoside analogues plus a protease inhibitor has become the standard of care for HIV-positive patients. UK and Irish investigators recently discovered that using two protease inhibitors instead of one in combination with two nucleoside analogues can increase protease inhibitor bioavailability from subtherapeutic to therapeutic ranges in some cases. According to a study published in the December issue of AIDS, Dr. David Black of the University of Liverpool, along with colleagues there and in Ireland, report that, in some patients, "...nelfinavir increases the oral bioavailability of saquinavir (hard gel) approximately fivefold." Dr. Black and his associates investigated the pharmacokinetics of the hard-gel formulation of saquinavir administered alone or in combination with nelfinavir to six HIV-positive patients. All of the patients were initially on three-drug combination therapy with two nucleosides plus saquinavir 600 mg three times daily. Dr. Black's group analyzed patients' blood samples while on this regimen and while on this regimen plus nelfinavir 750 mg three times daily for two days. After the addition of nelfinavir, the investigators observed significant increases in the maximum concentration and area under the curve to 8 h. of saquinavir. They conclude that "...for some patients the addition of nelfinavir to saquinavir will increase the drug levels from subtherapeutic to the therapeutic range." Dr. Blacks' group also noted "marked variability" in baseline plasma saquinavir levels in the patients. "The variability in the baseline saquinavir levels...suggest that there may not be a single dosing schedule for all patients and that dosing may be adjusted using individual therapeutic drug monitoring." AIDS 1997;11:F117-F120 Back to headlines