They were AZT-experienced, but 3TC and protease inhibitor naive. This past fall, Abbott reported results from two important studies. This study began with participants receiving the distasteful ritonavir liquid, so compliance may have been an unreported problem. Well into the study participants were switched to the ritonavir gel-caps and compliance appeared to be improved. There was, however, a considerable drop-out rate due to the difficult side effects of taking ritonavir.
Preliminary studies testing tolerability and antiviral activity are encouraging.
This will be explored in clinical studies. Reported at this conference were the preliminary 4 week findings exploring the safety, tolerability and antiviral activity of combining 900 mg bid 141W94 with 300 mg bid 1592U89. For 6 evaluable study participants, a median reduction in viral load of about 2 log from baseline was noted along with an increase of 79 CD4 cells from baseline. Investigators categorized the combination as well tolerated. The first study in HIV-infected individuals is expected to begin within several months.