The Current Status of HIV Therapeutics— A Clinician’s Perspective and Treatment Trends

This article presents a firsthand view of clinical practices employed for the treatment of HIV, as seen through the eyes of a practicing physician who specializes in HIV infection. Also included is a cursory overview of the burgeoning marketplace for HIV therapeutics.

The treatment of HIV infection presents a conundrum. In order for the currently used agents to be effective, there must be patient compliance with strict regimens of costly medications—this often leads to failure. A rational treatment strategy for HIV infection is beyond simple drug administration; it is a question of clinical tailoring of the drugs to the patient population.

In a sense, this article presents a true ‘drug and market development’ scenario—how is the clinical practice [of treating HIV] affected by the market dynamics at play (e.g., cost issues, payer/provider balance)? This article attempts to address these issues.