Better chance for HIV patients to reach undetectable viral load

Today's positive opinion by the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of Tibotec's boosted protease inhibitor darunavir is good news for HIV treatment-experienced patients facing drug resistance.

Studies have shown that darunavir, when used in combination with the fusion inhibitor FUZEON, can substantially increase the chances of reaching undetectable viral load - the new treatment goal in HIV.

However guidelines issued by major health associations such as the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International AIDS Society (IAS-USA Panel), the French Ministry of Health and Solidarity and the British HIV Association have recommended that achieving maximum viral suppression should now be the treatment goal in treatment experienced patients. This far more ambitious goal for people living with drug-resistant HIV has been made possible through the emergence of new HIV medications such as FUZEON. The use of FUZEON with an active agent such as a boosted protease inhibitor is acknowledged in the guidelines as one of the best way to achieve undetectable viral load. Today's positive opinion by the CHMP means that patients will soon have access to a new potent anti-viral combination.

By Ketchum