Third International Congress Drug Therapy in HIV Infection 3-7 November 1996 Glasgow, UK

[TITLE:]

M. S. Hirsch
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA

Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 1996 Nov 3-7;3:Abstract No. 10.1
AIDS 1996, Vol. 10 (Suppl. 2);S6

Combining antiretroviral agents is becoming standard in the management of HIV-1 infection in the developed world, based on theoretical considerations, in vitro data, and numerous clinical trials. Historical information from other infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, endocarditis) and neoplasms (e.g., childhood leukemias) add credence to this approach and may provide guidance for further advances. Combining antiretrovirals has several potential advantages over the use of drugs in monotherapy, including delay in the emergence of drug-resistant virus or broadened coverage against resistant virus, additive or synergistic antiviral effects, increased targeting of different cellular or tissue reservoirs for HIV, and wider coverage of cells at different stiges of activation.

Drug combinations may be administered simultaneously, alternately or sequentially. Several in vitro and limited in vivo studies suggest that simultaneous combinations are more effective than alternating regimens in inhibiting HIV replication, particularly when relatively high drug concentrations are achieved. However, in situations characterized by relatively low concentrations of antiviral drugs and breakthrough of virus replication in the presence of drug, sequential addition of new drugs or new drug combinations, may be preferable. In either case, HIV-1 replication can be suppressed more completely and more dumbly as the number of drugs in a combination regimen is increased.

New questions are being raised as to the best combination antiretroviral strategies to suppress or possibly eradicate HIV-I, while at the same time minimizing toxicity and cost. Concepts of 3 or 4 drug induction regimens, followed by 1 or 2 drug maintenance regimens are being explored both in virus culture systems and in the clinic, as are ideas concerning the duration of treatment necessary to eradicate potential latent reservoirs of virus. These studies will be reviewed.

Presenting author: M. S. Hirsch

1996-11-03
10.1

Originally published in AIDS Volume 10, Supplement 2 and hosted with permission of the publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 250 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RD, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7981 0700 Fax: +44 (0) 7981 0701

Copyright © 1996 - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved. All abstracts from the 3rd International Congress Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, appearing on the AEGiS web site, are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice. However, provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal, non-commercial use only.

http://www.aidsonline.com http://www.ovid.com