Virus-specific HIV drug approved
On 6th August, the US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s drug maraviroc, the first in a new class of HIV drugs designed to prevent the virus entering the immune system’s CD4 cells. Maraviroc, sold under the name Selzentry, is different because it will not work for all patients. To enter cells, HIV binds to both the CD4 receptor and one of two co-receptors, CCR5 or CXCR4. Maraviroc specifically blocks the CCR5 co-receptor, so the FDA has approved the drug for the 50 to 60 per cent of people with HIV who have forms of the virus that latch onto CCR5. The drug will only be given to people who have had pharmacogenetic testing to show that their type of HIV enters CD4 cells via CCR5. Maraviroc taken twice a day by patients, as an oral pill in combination therapy (HAART) with other HIV medications.
