In:
Antiviral Therapy, SAGE Publications, Vol. 10, No. 2 ( 2005-02), p. 335-341
Abstract:
To assess the effectiveness of generic anti-retroviral drugs in terms of survival and virological and immunological responses, as well as their tolerability and the emergence of viral resistance. Methods A total of 109 HIV-1-infected patients were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Available generic drugs were a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of zidovudine (ZDV) and lamivudine (3TC), an FDC of 3TC, stavudine (d4T) and nevirapine (NVP), and individual formulations of ZDV, 3TC and NVP. Results At baseline, the median CD4 cell count was 150/mm 3 [interquartile range (IQR) 61–223] and median viral load was 5.4 log 10 copies/ml (IQR 4.8–5.6); 78% of patients received ZDV/3TC/NVP and 22% received 3TC/d4T/NVP. Median follow-up was 16 months (IQR 11–23). The survival probability was high (0.92 at 12 months); plasma viral load declined by a median of 3.3 log 10 copies/ml and 86.9% of the intention-to-treat population had viral load 〈 400 copies/ml at 12 months; CD4 count had increased by a median of 106 cells/mm 3 at 12 months; drug resistance rarely emerged (incidence rate 3.2 per 100 person-years); and the treatments were reasonably well-tolerated (incidence rate of severe adverse effects 7.8 per 100 person-years). Conclusion Together with previous pharmacological and clinical studies, this prospective study suggests that these generic antiretroviral drugs can be used in developing countries.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1359-6535
,
2040-2058
DOI:
10.1177/135965350501000208
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2118396-X
SSG:
15,3
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