The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7256 p3
5 July 2003

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Roche launches fusion inhibitor

A new antiretroviral agent enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) is launched in the United Kingdom this week by Roche (see p11).

Unlike other HIV treatments, which act inside infected cells, enfuvirtide works by blocking fusion of the virus with CD4 cells. This mode of action, says Roche, means that enfuvirtide is active against HIV strains that are resistant to current therapies.

Enfuvirtide is indicated as combination therapy for treatment of HIV-1 infected patients who have failed on regimens containing at least one protease inhibitor, one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and at least one nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or who have intolerance to previously used antiretroviral regimens.