CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Boehringer Ingelheim's nonpeptidic protease inhibitor Aptivus (tipranavir) to be used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV infection. BI officials say the drug will be available at pharmacies nationwide within the next two weeks. The company hopes to gain approval to market the drug in Europe by the end of the year. Because Aptivus is not a peptide-based drug and has a different chemical structure than other protease inhibitors, it has been shown to be effective against strains of the virus that have developed defenses against other anti-HIV drugs. The drug is approved for HIV patients who have failed other anti-HIV regimens or are resistant to other protease inhibitors; it is not approved for first-line therapy, according to AIDSmeds.com. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has not yet developed guidelines for use of Aptivus among U.S. HIV patients. The recommended dosage for Aptivus is two 250-milligram capsules taken twice daily. The drug also must be taken with a small booster dose of Abbott Laboratories' protease inhibitor Norvir for maximum effect. An FDA advisory panel last month supported Aptivus's approval but called on BI to conduct long-term studies to evaluate the effects of Aptivus on blood-based lipid levels and liver function. The drug was shown in clinical trials to cause liver damage and hepatitis-like symptoms in some patients taking it. BI currently recommends that doctors give liver function tests to all HIV patients beginning Aptivus therapy and carefully monitor them throughout treatment. Extra caution is recommended for HIV patients also coinfected with hepatitis B or C who begin the drug. BI is currently conducting Phase II and III clinical trials of Aptivus involving HIV-positive children and adults who have not taken other anti-HIV drugs. The FDA has approved eight other protease inhibitor medications since 1996. The drugs work by blocking the action of an enzyme that cuts HIV proteins into smaller sections that the virus needs to replicate.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
How a lesbian's triumph on the Portland Timbers billboard broke barriers
April 24 2024 4:52 PM
‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit unveiled at inaugural survivors’ summit
April 24 2024 4:46 PM
Trans woman Andrea Doria Dos Passos beaten to death in Miami Beach; arrest made
April 24 2024 4:36 PM
TikTok may be banned in the U.S. after Biden signs new law — Why?
April 24 2024 3:43 PM
Serial killer of gay men in New Orleans released after 46 years in prison
April 24 2024 2:16 PM
The 'largest bi+ event in the world' is happening this year. Here's when and where
April 24 2024 12:42 PM
What happens if Donald Trump is jailed for criminal contempt?
April 24 2024 12:22 PM
Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and more urge NCAA to stand up for trans inclusion
April 24 2024 8:00 AM
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM