Emtricitabine effective in paediatric HIV infections

Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has proven effective in the treatment of HIV infections, safety and toxicity remain key considerations, particularly in children. Emtricitabine [FTC, 'Coviracil'] is a new nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that has demonstrated potent activity against HIV in adults treated with once-daily HAART regimens. However, the safety and efficacy of emtricitabine have not been fully evaluated in children. Two studies presented at the 10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections [Boston, US; February 2003] have provided evidence that treatment of children with emtricitabine achieves a level of systemic exposure comparable to that observed in adults, and that the drug is also virologically active and well tolerated in children.