Efavirenz News and Research

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Efavirenz, also known as EFV or Sustiva, is a type of medicine called a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). NNRTIs block reverse transcriptase, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. Efavirenz was approved by the FDA on September 17, 1998, for use with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV infection in adults and children ages 3 and older. This medicine does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people. Efavirenz may also be used with other antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV in people who have been exposed to the virus in the work place, such as health care providers who come in contact with HIV infected blood through an accidental needle stick.

Antiretroviral drug efavirenz associated with better outcomes in HIV-infected adults

A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that HIV-infected patients taking the antiretroviral drug efavirenz were more likely to adhere to treatment and less likely to experience virologic failure and death compared to patients taking nevirapine.

14 Oct 2008

Brazil to produce generic version of Merck's antiretroviral Efavirenz

Brazilian Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao on Wednesday said Brazil will begin producing a generic version of Merck's antiretroviral efavirenz, the AP/USA Today reports.

22 Sep 2008

Genetic screening effective for initial HIV treatment

A major study from a team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College and Massachusetts General Hospital has found that a recent change to HIV-treatment guidelines recommending genetic screening is cost-effective under certain conditions. The new recommendation suggests conducting a genetic screening test prior to prescribing the drug abacavir, one of the preferred first-line drugs for the treatment for HIV-infected adults.

17 Sep 2008

Certain HIV treatment less effective when used with rifampicin-based anti-tuberculosis therapy

Patients receiving rifampicin-based anti-tuberculosis therapy are more likely to experience virological failure when starting nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy, an HIV treatment that is widely used in developing countries because of lower cost, than when starting efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy, according to a study in the August 6 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on HIV/AIDS.

3 Aug 2008

Merck announces significant price cuts on two of its AIDS drugs, Stocrin and Isentress

As more than 20,000 people from around the world gather this weekend for the start of the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) the US-based NGO which provides HIV/AIDS medical care and/or services to more than 79,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide-including at four free treatment clinics in Mexico-commended Merck & Company (known as Merck, Sharp & Dohme in Mexico) over price cuts on two of its key AIDS drugs in Mexico which were announced yesterday before Sunday's opening of the AIDS conference.

3 Aug 2008

Access to generic HIV/AIDS drugs increasing following Thailand's decision to issue compulsory licenses, health official Says

Access to some antiretroviral drugs is increasing in Thailand because of the country's decision to issue compulsory licenses for certain medications, Winai Sawasdiworn, deputy secretary-general of the National Health Security Office, said recently, the Bangkok Post reports (Apiradee, Bangkok Post, 5/8).

11 May 2008

Ardea Biosciences completes phase 1 trials of HIV drug RDEA806

Ardea Biosciences, Inc. has announced that it has successfully completed Phase 1 single-ascending-dose, multiple-ascending-dose, food-effect, and drug-interaction studies of RDEA806, a novel HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), in healthy volunteers.

5 Sep 2007

New trade agreement language to allow developing countries more flexibility in circumventing drug patents, other restrictions

Democratic lawmakers and U.S. trade officials are in the final stages of negotiation over language to be added to international free trade agreements that would allow developing countries more flexibility in circumventing drug patents and other restrictions on pharmaceuticals, sources said recently, CongressDaily reports.

22 Jun 2007

Clinton to the rescue again!

Bill Clinton has done deal with two generic drug companies which will ensure that developing countries will be able to access second line anti-retroviral AIDS drugs at reduced prices.

8 May 2007

U.S. trade rep places Thailand on priority watch list in annual report

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in its annual report released on Monday placed Thailand on its Priority Watch List in part because the country recently issued compulsory licenses for several medicines, including two antiretroviral drugs, CongressDaily reports.

2 May 2007

Health advocates, drug industry reps lobby lawmakers for support in Thailand drug licensing dispute

International health advocates and drug industry representatives are lobbying U.S. lawmakers and the Bush administration for their support in the dispute over Thailand's decision to issue compulsory licenses for medications, including some antiretroviral drugs, CongressDaily reports (Vaughan, CongressDaily , 4/26).

30 Apr 2007

Brazilian Health Minister says country will purchase generic version of Merck antiretroviral if price not lowered

Brazilian Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao on Wednesday signed a decree declaring that the country would purchase from an India-based drug maker a generic version of Merck 's antiretroviral Efavirenz if the company does not offer the drug at a lower price, the AP/Forbes reports.

30 Apr 2007

Thailand wins round two in battle to access cheaper AIDS drugs

The military government in Thailand has won the second round in it's battle to access cheaper AIDS drugs for the nations 580,000 AIDS sufferers.

23 Apr 2007

Thailand threatens big pharma companies

Thailand's minister for health has reportedly threatened to override international patents on even more drugs if the big pharmaceutical manufacturers do not significantly cut their prices.

19 Feb 2007

Public standards for world medications to treat neglected infectious diseases

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has released free documentary standards for medicines used outside the United States to treat neglected infectious diseases.

29 Jan 2007

Thai Health Ministry to issue compulsory license for Merck's HIV/AIDS drug Efavirenz

Thailand's Ministry Of Public Health on Wednesday announced plans to issue a compulsory license to produce a lower-cost version of Merck's antiretroviral drug Efavirenz, Reuters reports.

2 Dec 2006

Bristol-Myers Squibb receives FDA approval for new formulation of antiretroviral Reyataz

Bristol-Myers Squibb on Friday announced that it has received FDA approval for a single 300 mg capsule formulation of its protease inhibitor Reyataz to be taken as part of combination therapy, Reuters reports.

24 Oct 2006

FDA approves Atripla for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Gilead Sciences have announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of Atripla (efavirenz 600 mg/ emtricitabine 200 mg/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults.

13 Jul 2006

FDA approves Atripla three-drug combination tablet for treatment of HIV-1

FDA approves Atripla Tablets, a fixed-dose combination of three widely-used antiretroviral drugs.

12 Jul 2006

Clinton's deal with drug companies will save millions of lives and millions of dollars

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has struck a deal with nine drug companies to reduce the cost of the second-line AIDS drugs.

16 Jan 2006