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Results from a recent large study confirm that Viread, which is also a component of Truvada and Atripla, causes kidney damage in people with HIV. The results also indicate that the kidney damage increases with each year of exposure and is irreversible.

Based on the results, the study authors recommended frequent kidney function monitoring for people who take Viread, Truvada, or Atripla. They also suggested that people who already have kidney problems may need to consider other antiretrovirals.

“Patients need to be aware of their kidney disease risks before they…

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Generic Version Of Combivir Is Now Available – The generic version of Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine), made by generic drug maker Teva Pharmaceuticals, is now available. Teva stated that it began shipping its generic form to pharmacies starting December 27. Generic Combivir was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2011 (see related AIDS Beacon news). For more information, please see the article in Businessweek or the Teva Pharmaceuticals website.

Truvada For Prevention Of HIV Makes Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs” For 2011 – Results from several studies showing that a daily dose of the antiretroviral Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) can reduce the risk of HIV infection by 60 percent to 90 percent were declared one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2011 by Time Magazine. The magazine noted that if the antiretrovirals were made widely available they could help curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The primary study, HPTN 052, was also chosen by Science Magazine as “2011 Breakthrough of the Year.” Gilead Sciences, which makes Truvada, applied for FDA approval to market the drug as an HIV prevention measure in December (see related AIDS Beacon news). However, Bloomberg noted that the drug costs $12,000 per year and has side effects, both of which may prevent widespread implementation. For more information, please see the articles in Time Magazine, Science Magazine, and Bloomberg.

Physicians Caution That Certain Anti-Seizure Drugs May Interfere With Antiretrovirals – New guidelines from American Academy of Neurology warn that certain anti-seizure medications, such as those taken to treat epilepsy, may interact with antiretroviral medications for HIV/AIDS. For example, the guidelines note that valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene) may increase the concentration of zidovudine (Retrovir) in the blood, increasing the risk of toxicity and side effects. Several anti-seizure medications also may interact with Norvir (ritonavir)-boosted Reyataz (atazanavir) and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir). The guidelines recommend that people with HIV and seizure disorders share with their clinician what medications they are taking so that drug types and dosages can be adjusted if needed. For more information, please see the guidelines (pdf) or the patient information guide (pdf) at the American Academy of Neurology website.

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Gilead Applies For Approval For Truvada As An HIV-Prevention Drug – Gilead Sciences has applied for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) for the prevention of HIV infection. The application is based on studies showing that taking Truvada once a day helped reduce the rate of new HIV infections in high-risk populations, such as men who have sex with men, by about 70 to 90 percent when taken regularly (see related AIDS Beacon news). If approved, Gilead stated that Truvada would be the first drug approved for the prevention of HIV infection via sexual transmission in uninfected adults. For more information, please see the Gilead Sciences press release.

People With HIV May Be At Higher Risk Of Migraines – Results from a recent study indicate that people with HIV may be at a higher risk of headaches, particularly migraines, than people without HIV. The researchers found that more than half of study participants reported headaches; more than 85 percent of these patients met the criteria for migraine headaches. According to the scientists, this represents a 13-fold higher risk of chronic migraines in people with HIV compared to the general population. The researchers also found that more advanced HIV infection was associated with more severe headaches. For more information, please see the press release from the University of Mississippi or the study in the journal Headache (abstract).

2012 Federal Spending Bill Bans Needle Exchange Programs For HIV Prevention – The 2012 federal spending bill, approved by Congress last week, contains a provision that prohibits federal money from being used for needle exchange programs for illegal drug users. The programs are meant to help prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne diseases by ensuring that users do not share needles. The AIDS Institute, a non-profit AIDS advocacy organization, expressed disappointment with the bill and also noted that funds remained flat for programs such as the Ryan White Program, which provides money to care for low-income people with HIV. For more information, please see the article in the Washington Post or the press release from The AIDS Institute.

Florida “Faces Of HIV” Project To Launch In Tallahassee, FL – Florida state will launch its traveling “Faces of HIV” exhibit January 13 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. The project showcases the faces, experiences, and daily lives of people with HIV. The aim of the exhibit is to reduce stigma against people with HIV and to demonstrate that HIV infection strikes all sexes, ages, and races and cannot be deduced from a person’s appearance. The project will also stop in Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville, FL. For more information, please see the Faces of HIV website at the Florida Department of Health.

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Results from a recent Australian study show that switching to Truvada or Epzicom can help improve limb fat loss caused by older antiretroviral drugs like zidovudine or stavudine.

The study authors also noted that participants with the most severe limb fat loss had the largest gain in limb fat after switching.

“This is good news for participants with severe loss of limb fat, as switching treatment can positively change their body image,” said Allison Humphries, Senior Clinical Project Coordinator at the Kirby Institute of the University of New South Wales,…

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Congresswoman Lee Introduces Bill To Repeal Certain HIV Criminalization Laws – Representative Barbara Lee from California has introduced legislation that requires state officials nationwide to reevaluate HIV criminalization laws. The proposed legislation also offers incentives for states to repeal or modify laws that criminalize behavior by people with HIV that is legal for HIV-negative individuals or that has been shown scientifically to convey no measurable risk of HIV transmission. Representatives Hansen Clark and John Conyers from Michigan are co-sponsors of the bill. For more information, please see Rep. Lee’s press release or the article in the Michigan Messenger.

Large HIV Prevention Trial For Women Modified Due To Viread Inefficacy – A large trial that is testing the efficacy of Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) pills, Viread (tenofovir) pills, and a Truvada vaginal gel in preventing HIV transmission to women has been modified because of interim results showing that Viread pills are ineffective. Based on the results, women in the Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (VOICE) study who were taking Viread will stop taking the drug and will no longer be included in the study. Women taking Truvada pills or the Truvada vaginal gel will continue as planned. For more information, please see the National Institutes of Health press release or the article on the Science Magazine website.

Phase 1 Clinical Trial Shows New HIV Vaccine May Be Highly Effective – Results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of a new preventative HIV vaccine in Spain show that 90 percent of healthy HIV-negative adults who received the vaccine showed an immune response; 85 percent still had an immune response one year after vaccination. This is a much higher percentage than researchers have observed in previous vaccine clinical trials. However, the scientists still have to show that the vaccine actually reduces the risk of contracting HIV. The researchers also plan to test the vaccine as a therapeutic vaccine in people who already have HIV to see if it reduces the severity of infection. For more information, please see the press release from Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas or the articles on the ABC news and Fox news websites.

Clinical Trial To Test Victrelis In People With HIV And Hepatitis C Is Currently Recruiting Participants – A Phase 4 clinical trial that will test the efficacy of Victrelis (boceprevir) in HIV-positive adults with hepatitis C virus compared to HIV-negative adults with hepatitis C is currently recruiting participants. Study participants will receive Victrelis in combination with peginterferon-2b (PegIntron) and ribavirin (Rebetol). Eligible participants must not have taken the antiretrovirals Ziagen (abacavir), zidovudine (Retrovir), didanosine (Videx), stavudine (Zerit), Sustiva (efavirenz), or Intelence (etravirine) within the past six months. Additional medication and health restrictions also apply. For more information, please see the U.S. Clinical Trials Registry.