Enfuvirtide

Excerpt

Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon™, T20, DP178), the first fusion inhibitor approved for the treatment of HIV, inhibits glycoprotein (gp)41-mediated fusion of HIV to host CD4+ cells, thereby blocking viral entry. This unique extracellular mechanism of action appears to explain enfuvirtide’s preserved activity against viral mutants that are resistant to other classes of antiretroviral therapy. Exciting results from two international phase III studies, conducted in patients with virological failure and documented resistance to all three classes of antiretroviral drugs (i.e. patients requiring ‘salvage’ therapy), confirm the benefit of enfuvirtide administered twice daily as 90mg subcutaneous injections, thereby providing real hope for patients with progressive HIV disease and limited treatment options. …