The FDA has approved Merck & Co.'s (NYSE:MRK)newest AIDS option, Isentress and the company said that the pill should be available to the public within the next two weeks.
Three different enzymes are used by the AIDS virus to reproduce and infect cells and numerous drugs are available that attack two of those enzymes, protease and reverse transcriptase. Isentress is the first in a
new class of medication that blocks the third called integrase. When Isentress (raltegravir) is added to the drug "cocktail", it can lower the amount of HIV in the blood and thus help immune cells rebound. Inhibiting integrase from allowing HIV DNA insertion into human DNA blocks the ability of the virus to replicate and infect new cells.
The FDA approved the use of Isentress for use of patients over 16 who have shown prior resistance to the more common older medicines. The reason for the resistance is that HIV mutates quickly making drugs ineffective. Known side effects include diarrhea, headache, itching and nausea. The medication is to be taken twice a day and Merck says it will be available at a cost of $27 per day.
[Source: Yahoo News]
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» Merck & Co. from PharmaGazette
U.S. based Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) was 8th in total sales and #7 ($3.62 bn EUR)in R&D spending in 2006. Merck has had success with the U.K mandating HPV for all school age girls and its vaccine, Gardasil, is in the... [Read More]
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