Another expensive drug for your cocktail
Gilden, D.
Gmhc Treatment Issues the Gay Men's Health Crisis Newsletter of Experimental Aids Therapies 12(9): 3-6
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-1824 PMID: 11365806 Document Number: 486426
Efavirenz (Sustiva), a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) developed by DuPont Pharmaceuticals, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. DuPont has promoted the once-daily efavirenz as being as equally effective as a protease inhibitor, and has priced it accordingly. The results from Study 006, the central trial for efavirenz, reported high antiviral activity, but had a significant dropout rate. This made it difficult to extrapolate the findings for those individuals remaining. The results of other key studies, such as Study 020 and ACTG 364, are discussed. Efavirenz is most effective when combined with protease inhibitors or nucleoside analogs. Some of the side effects of efavirenz are higher cholesterol levels, dizziness, and skin rashes. The possibility of birth defects has prompted DuPont to advise patients to use two types of birth control while taking efavirenz. A contact number is provided for physicians to register pregnant patients for follow-up if they have been exposed to efavirenz. Other protease-sparing options besides efavirenz are discussed, such as Nevirapine and Delavirdine.