Raltegravir shows benefits in adult HIV-1 patients

A new analysis reveals that Isentress (raltegravir), from Merck, used in combination therapy shows better efficacy compared to efavirenz-based therapy in previously untreated (treatment-na�ve) adult HIV-1-infected patients. The analysis of the STARTMRK Phase III study at 192 weeks of treatment showed that the percentage of patients maintaining undetectable virus levels (less than 50 copies/mL) was 76.2 percent (n=214/281) for Isentress in combination therapy vs. 67.0 percent (n=189/282) for the efavirenz-based therapy. The Isentress-based regimen also showed a greater immunological effect as measured by mean increase from baseline in CD4-cell count at week 192 (360.7 vs. 300.9 cells/mm3; CI 24.1, 95.4) versus the efavirenz regimen. The data was presented by Dr. J�rgen Rockstroh from the University of Bonn in Bonn-Venusberg, Germany, at the 13th European AIDS Conference.