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.

Clinton Foundation, UNITAID announce new antiretroviral discounts

The Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative and UNITAID on Monday announced that they have negotiated agreements with generic drug companies that will reduce the cost of some antiretroviral drugs and provide new pediatric formulations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

29 Apr 2008

HIV drugs, Abacavir and Didanosine increase the risk of heart attack

A study to assess the adverse effects of anti-retroviral drugs shows that two widely-used HIV drugs are associated with an increased risk of heart attack/the formation of blood clots in the heart.

8 Feb 2008

FDA reviews new data on risks of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing new data from two studies that provide further evidence of the risks of anemia drugs known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, or ESAs.

4 Jan 2008

HIV drug resistance risk in mothers reduced by tenofovir/emtricitabine with nevirapine during labor

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) shows that adding a single dose of two common anti-HIV drugs can prevent HIV-positive pregnant women from developing resistance to an entire class of drugs, potentially improving future treatment options.

14 Nov 2007

FDA strengthens warnings for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved revised boxed warnings and other safety-related product labeling changes for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), which treat certain types of anemia.

13 Nov 2007

FDA strengthens safety information for Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory outlining new safety information, including revised product labeling about erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), widely-used drugs for the treatment of anemia.

11 Mar 2007

Health-care workers should undergo preventive drug treatment if exposed to HIV on the job

Doctors, nurses and other health-care providers have worried about HIV exposure since the AIDS epidemic first began in the early 1980s. Since the virus that causes AIDS is transmitted through blood, a simple needle stick could infect anyone treating a patient.

1 Mar 2007

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

3-drug pill will help fight HIV/AIDS

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. has granted approval for a three-ingredient fixed dose tablet for use as an antiretroviral treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection in adults.

3 Jul 2006

Poorer countries to benefit from reinstatement of 7 generic AIDS drugs to WHO's list

India's Ranbaxy Laboratories, seven anti- AIDS drugs, have been added to World Health Organisation's (WHO) prequalification list for use in poor countries.

21 Aug 2005

Combination antiretroviral drug therapy may reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Two new studies support the hypothesis that combination antiretroviral drug therapy may reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission through breastfeeding, findings that could have significant implications in the developing world.

29 Jul 2005

Combination of ribavirin and interferon is more effective in treating hepatitis C than using interferon alone

The researchers reviewed 72 randomized trials and 9,991 patients who had chronic hepatitis C for more than six months and were previously untreated, who had relapsed after treatment or who had not responded to other treatment.

19 Jul 2005

Ranbaxy receives tentative FDA approval to manufacture and market Zidovudine tablets

India's Ranbaxy Laboratories has announced that it has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Zidovudine Tablets USP, 300 mg.

15 Jul 2005

Findings from perinatal HIV prevention study in Uganda are valid

A Ugandan drug trial's findings that the AIDS medication nevirapine is effective and safe in preventing HIV transmission from mother to unborn child during birth were well-supported, according to a new, independent analysis by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

12 Apr 2005

Data which showed that nevirapine effectively prevents many infants from contracting HIV from their infected mothers, are sound and reliable

10 Apr 2005

HAART saves 2 million life years

The total impact of HIV treatment in the US has been evaluated for the first time. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, ( Harvard Medical School in Boston), speaking at the 12th Annual Retrovirus Conference, quoted from research which estimated the survival benefits of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and opportunistic infection prophylaxis in the US from 1989 to 2003.

2 Mar 2005

Tentative approval of co-packaged lamivudine/zidovudine fixed dose combination tablets and nevirapine tablets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the tentative approval of a co-packaged antiretroviral drug regimen manufactured by Aspen Pharmacare of South Africa for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults.

26 Jan 2005

World Health Organization is reinstating two antiretrovirals manufactured by Cipla Ltd

The two medicines (which are used in the treatment of AIDS) had been delisted by WHO in May this year due to non-compliance with international standards at the contract research organizations (CROs) hired by Cipla to conduct bioequivalence tests on the products.

30 Nov 2004

Antiretroviral treatment may provide protection against HIV transmission during breast-feeding

Women who take combination AIDS drugs not only have benefits for their own health but also may pass along high levels of the medication through breast-feeding, potentially protecting their infants from HIV infection

30 Sep 2004

GlaxoSmithKline has granted a voluntary licence to Cosmos Limited for the manufacture and sale of antiretrovirals

GlaxoSmithKline currently sells zidovudine (sold as Retrovir®), lamivudine (sold as Epivir®) and the combination of the two molecules (sold as Combivir®) across the region.

22 Sep 2004