Newest HIV drugs should be used with FUZEON(R)

Data presented at IAS build a compelling case for FUZEON (enfuvirtide, formerly known as T-20) to be combined with the newest drugs to give patients facing resistance their best chance of achieving undetectable viral load – the optimal treatment goal for all people living with HIV.

"Undetectable viral load should be the ultimate treatment goal for all triple-class experienced patients. FUZEON combined with the latest drugs now makes this much more achievable," explained Dr Mike Youle the Royal Free Hospital, London. "We are seeing a consistent FUZEON effect with these new drugs and I believe these data must change the way we manage triple class experienced patients facing HIV resistance and failing to reach undetectable viral load."

Studies presented this week show that when FUZEON was given in combination with the novel HIV medication, tipranavir, an impressive 70% of FUZEON naïve patients achieved a ten-fold reduction in their viral load and furthermore they also had double the increase in immune cell count1, compared to patients receiving tipranavir/r without FUZEON.

This adds to the growing body of evidence for the powerful "FUZEON effect" which has been seen across the RESIST 1 & 2, POWER 1 & 2 and TORO 1 & 2 studies, where adding FUZEON was seen to almost double the number of patients reaching undetectable, when combined with one of the latest boosted PIs such as lopinavir/r, tipranavir/r or TMC 114/r.

Doctors underestimate significant "FUZEON effect"

Surprisingly, of the 560 doctors surveyed onsite this week at the IAS conference, three quarters (75%) underestimated the "FUZEON effect" seen in both RESIST2 and POWER3 studies.

Latest data adds to growing Body of Evidence – Latest Boosted Protease Inhibitors (lopinavir/r, tipranavir/r and TMC 114/r) all work best in combination with FUZEON

RESIST Phase III tipranavir trials
Over 24 weeks, almost double the proportion of patients who received FUZEON plus tipranavir/r showed a 90% drop in viral load compared with patients not receiving FUZEON

POWER Phase II TMC114 dosing trials
Over 24 weeks in the combined TMC114 trials, almost double the proportion of patients who received FUZEON plus TMC114/r achieved a viral load below 50 copies/ml compared with patients not receiving FUZEON A remarkable 67% of the patients receiving FUZEON plus TMC114/r reached an undetectable viral load

TORO Phase III FUZEON trials
Over 24 weeks, double the proportion of patients who received FUZEON plus lopinavir/r achieved an undetectable viral load (<50 copies/ml) compared with patients not receiving FUZEON

Collectively the data from all six studies, in over 2,500 patients, establish a new paradigm in the management of triple class-experienced patients.

Why FUZEON is effective in face of HIV resistance

FUZEON is still the first and only anti-retroviral drug to work outside the human immune cell (CD4), blocking the HIV virus from entering. All other currently available HIV drugs fight the HIV virus once it has entered the cell. FUZEON's unique mode of action means that FUZEON has no cross-resistance with currently available drugs and that it is an effective treatment, in combination with other anti–HIV drugs, for patients facing resistance.

New combination improves quality of life

Spike, a 48 year old person living with HIV from London, whose blood levels of HIV reached undetectable within six months of taking FUZEON and boosted tipranavir and has remained undetectable ever since, explains "This new combination of treatments has really improved my quality of life. Getting back to undetectable and seeing my CD4 count increase from 20 to 268 has changed my outlook on life. I believe I can plan for the future, which I didn't even consider doing before starting this regimen. I have much more energy now than I had before, which is exhilarating since I have been held back for so long." Spike has been living with HIV since it was detected in his body in 1986 and works as a freelance designer and night-club promoter.

The use of FUZEON is continuing to grow, despite initial reluctance from patients and physicians to using an injection, and more patients are now successfully starting and remaining on treatment. Roche continues to roll out educational initiatives to support patients and physicians with the administration and use of FUZEON.

Source : Ketchum