Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate has durable efficacy in HIV

The nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NtRTI), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate ['Viread'] has durable antiviral activity against HIV infections in heavily pretreated patients, and is also effective in treatment-naive patients, according to studies presented at the 9th Congress on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections [Seattle, US; February 2002]. Updated results from a pivotal phase III study (Study 907) showed that reductions in viral load achieved at 24 weeks were maintained at the 48-week follow-up evaluation.* Furthermore, in a separate study (Study 917), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was as effective as ritonavir in treatment-naive patients. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate also demonstrated promising activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection in a subgroup of patients from Study 907 and in a small study conducted in France.