Novel Drug - Selzentry (Maraviroc) - Approved for Adult HIV Patients

Selzentry (Maraviroc) was approved by the FDA on Monday August 6th, 2007 for the treatment of adult patients infected with HIV. It is a novel drug, which simply means that there is none like it currently in use and it is the first in a brand new class of HIV drugs. This class is known as the CCR5 Co-Receptor antagonists and their mechanism of action is to slow the advancement of HIV.

Selzentry (Maraviroc) is to be used in combination with other anti-retroviral drugs in adults with HIV who have been treated with other HIV medications but still show evidence of an increase in viral load (increased levels of HIV in their blood).

The drug comes with a boxed warning about liver toxicity and additional warnings/precautions about the possibility of heart attacks. No data is available on the safety and effectiveness of the drug in patients, adult or pediatric, that have not been treated with any other HIV medications. Also, there is no information regarding it's use in pregnant women.

The most commonly reported adverse events during clinical testing of Selzentry (Maraviroc) were fever, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, abdominal pain, dizziness, rash, and musculoskeletal symptoms.

Selzentry (Maraviroc) is available in 150mg and 300mg tablets which are taken twice a day with or without food. The drug should not be taken with St. John's Wort as this lowers the levels of Selzentry (Maraviroc). It is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc.

Photo courtesy of mentalacrobatics

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