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HIV drug prevents virus from entering the cell

Written by Dr. H. P. Bustami

Saturday, 04 October 2008

AIDS-Virus leaving an infected cell (Courtesy by NSF)
Facing the virus and destroying it. This is mainly the way AIDS-drugs work. Still no cure is available and still the diagnosis "HIV-positiv" is a longterm death penalty. But amazingly a small number of patients infected with this malignant virus never became ill. This finding was of interest for scientists who wondered what was different between those individuals and "normal" patients who died sooner or later by the AIDS-Virus. The researchers found out, that people obviously immune against HIV are lacking a certain structure on the surface of their cells, the so called CCR5-co-receptor. This was promising reason enough to investigate new drugs based on this principle of the persons with immunity against AIDS. An American-German research group from New York (USA) and Cologne (Germany) now published their results about a new drug which seemingly successfully prevents HIV from getting into the cell of infected people. It is called "Maraviroc".

In two combined studies 1049 patients with HIV-Infection were tested. The substance Maraviroc is blocking the CCR5-receptor which is lacking in persons with HIV-immunity. The study was conducted with people who did not respond to other therapies before. So this was also a kind of last chance for some persons concerned.

During the test period of 48 weeks in the patient groups with Maraviroc-treatment a clear decline in numbers of HI-viruses found was diagnosed. Between 42 and 47% of the persons had lower infection rates. Due to this convincing findings the drug is already permitted for clinical use in Germany.

Next to the treatment of already infected patients the future of the drug could become much more important in the field of prophylaxis. Likewise the malaria prophylaxis which prevents the infection directly the new drug Maraviroc could be a very suitable way to prevent further AIDS-Distribution. Low adverse effects, now resistance development and prevention of a central infection mechanism of the AIDS-Virus (using the CCR5-receptors to enter the cells) makes Maraviroc a promising new AIDS-drug.

Sources:
Roy et al. (2008):
Maraviroc for Previously Treated Patients with R5 HIV-1 Infection, New England Journal of Medicine
Volume 359:1429-1441, October 2, 2008,Number 14

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IDW: http://idw-online.de

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