Zidovudine News and Research

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Zidovudine was approved by the FDA on March 19, 1987, with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and in children 3 months of age or older. This medicine is also approved for use in HIV infected women to prevent the virus from being passed to their babies during pregnancy and delivery. It is then given to these babies for the first 6 weeks of life. Although the FDA does not approve this practice, zidovudine may be used to prevent workers from getting HIV infection after they accidentally come into contact with the virus on the job. This medicine does not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people.

Also in global health news: Kenya HIV/AIDS; Uganda bill; water project in Philippines; U.N. appeal for Yemen

U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger on Wednesday announced the U.S. would provide $26.5 million (2.7 billion Kenyan shillings) between 2009 and 2013 to fight HIV/AIDS in Kenya, the Daily Nation reports (Sinundu, 12/16). In related news, the Standard reports the Kenyan government will be begin the gradual phase out of the antiretroviral drug, Stavudine, which is known to cause adverse side effects (Mwai, 12/15).

17 Dec 2009

AHF lauds WHO for its crucial HIV treatment recommendations

On the eve of World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) praised the World Health Organization (WHO) for its new HIV treatment recommendations which include starting lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) earlier (at a t-cell count of <350 cells/mm3 instead of <200) for all HIV-positive adults and adolescents and earlier treatment initiation for HIV-positive pregnant women who should now begin treatment at 14 weeks into pregnancy, rather than 28 weeks as previously recommended, and continue until the end of breastfeeding.

1 Dec 2009

WHO issues new HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines

The WHO on Monday issued new recommendations that patients living with HIV/AIDS begin receiving antiretrovirals (ARVs) earlier than current HIV treatment advice suggests, the Associated Press reports

1 Dec 2009

GlaxoSmithKline to allow Apotex continue manufacturing their drug in Rwanda

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK) As part of its broad commitment to improving access to medicines and its ongoing support for Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), GlaxoSmithKline confirms it will not object - through CAMR - to allow Canadian company (Apotex) to continue manufacturing their drug for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Rwanda.

20 Oct 2009

Mothers receiving HAART less likely to transmit HIV virus to their newborns through breastfeeding

Mothers receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV-1 infection are less likely than untreated mothers to transmit the virus to their newborns through breastfeeding, according to a new study.

19 Oct 2009

FDA Advisory Committee approves use of Selzentry tablets in combination with HIV therapy

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee voted (10 to 4) to recommend the approval of Selzentry (maraviroc) tablets for use in treatment-naïve adult patients with CCR5-tropic HIV-1 virus as part of combination therapy.

9 Oct 2009

Phase III STARTMRK clinical study on ISENTRESS in comparison to efavirenz

ISENTRESS , an integrase inhibitor from Merck & Co., Inc., was studied in comparison to efavirenz in maintaining viral load suppression to undetectable levels (less than 50 copies/mL) and at improving CD4 cell counts in previously untreated (treatment-naïve) HIV-1-infected patients through 96 weeks in a Phase III study called STARTMRK.

14 Sep 2009

Chemical components of elderberry, cinnamon and green tea extracts block HIV viruses from infecting cells

The development of new antiviral drugs has had a tremendous impact on the quality of life and life expectancy of HIV-positive and AIDS patients, as the drugs effectively disrupt the replication cycle of the HIV virus. Yet the regular use of those drugs - such as zidovudine (also known as azidothymidine or AZT), protease inhibitors, and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) involving multidrug therapies - has led to resistant HIV strains.

20 Aug 2009

Antiretroviral therapy earlier yields better clinical outcomes

A clinical trial has demonstrated that HIV-infected adults in a resource-limited setting are more likely to survive if they start antiretroviral therapy (ART) before their immune systems are severely compromised.

9 Jun 2009

New vaginal ring designed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College have published results showing that a new contraceptive device may also effectively block the transmission of the HIV virus. Findings show that the device prevents infection by the HIV virus in laboratory testing. The promising results are published in the most recent issue of the journal AIDS.

19 May 2009

AHF delegation meets with WHO and UNAIDS, urges action on access to AIDS treatment, testing and condoms

An international delegation from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides medical care to more than 98,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, met today with officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to call for action and partnership to vastly increase global access to HIV/AIDS treatment, testing and condoms.

29 Mar 2009

AIDS advocates tell WHO: Stop harmful single-dose treatment for expectant mothers and infants

As World AIDS Day 2008 approaches, a coalition of hundreds of HIV/AIDS medical care providers and advocates, representing dozens of organizations, today sent a letter to Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), urging an end to harmful single-dose HIV/AIDS treatment as a recommended treatment for expectant mothers and infants worldwide.

25 Nov 2008

Results out from first phase III randomized clinical trial to study the best time to begin ART in infants

Testing very young babies for HIV and giving antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately to those found infected with the virus dramatically prevents illness and death, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

19 Nov 2008

PEPFAR suspends funding for three Ranbaxy AIDS drugs banned by FDA

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program has suspended funding for three antiretroviral drugs manufactured by Indian generic drugmaker Ranbaxy that were included in an importation ban imposed by FDA on Sept. 16, Bloomberg reports.

29 Sep 2008

Thai health experts call for review of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission program

Health experts in Thailand are calling for a review of the country's national program to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, which follows World Health Organization guidelines, the Bangkok Post reports.

24 Sep 2008

Children, adolescents living with HIV have higher rates of risk factors for cardiovascular issues

Children and adolescents living with HIV have higher rates of risk factors for cardiovascular issues than HIV-negative children and adolescents, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, the Miami Herald reports. In addition, many antiretroviral drugs can increase cardiovascular risk factors, the Herald reports.

24 Jun 2008

Longer treatment with antiretroviral Nevirapine reduces risk of HIV among infants

Extended treatment with the antiretroviral drug nevirapine in conjunction with the standard therapy might reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission, according to a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, Reuters reports (Emery, Reuters, 6/4).

8 Jun 2008

Role of breastfeeding in preventing infant death, HIV infection in developing countries

In many poor countries, mothers with HIV face a stark choice: to nurse their infants, and risk passing on HIV through their breast milk - or to formula feed, and deprive their infants of much of the natural immunity needed to protect against fatal diseases of early infancy. Now, two studies supported by the National Institutes of Health offer insights into preventing early death and HIV infection among breastfeeding infants of mothers with HIV in these countries.

5 Jun 2008

Canadian drug company awarded Rwandan contract to provide combination antiretroviral

Rwanda recently accepted a bid from the Toronto-based generic drug company Apotex to supply its fixed-dose combination antiretroviral drug Apo-triAvir to the country, the Toronto Star reports (Toronto Star, 5/9).

13 May 2008

Apotex receives final tender approval from Rwanda for vital AIDS drug

Apotex Inc., Canada's largest generic pharmaceutical company has successfully bid and been awarded a tender from the Rwandan Government for the life saving triple combination AIDS drug "Apo Triavir". Apotex is the first company to provide this medicine to Africa under the provisions of the Canadian Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR).

7 May 2008