Abbott HIV drug ‘works similarly across sex and ethnic lines’

Abbott has presented trial data showing Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) offers similar results for controlling the HIV-1 virus and increasing CD4 cells in women and non-white people compared with men and white people.

The data was presented by the company at the International Aids Conference.

Abbott notes women and non-white people have been under-represented in previous HIV studies, despite increasingly accounting for the majority of infected patients.

Through the 48-week study the percentage of men and women who saw undetectable HIV viral load were similar at 78 per cent and 72 per cent, as were the percentage of white and non-white who achieved an undetectable viral load, at 77 and 75 per cent respectively.

Scott Brun, divisional vice-president of infectious diseases and immunology development in global pharmaceutical research and development, Abbott, said: “The results showed that regardless of gender or race, Kaletra dosed once-daily or twice-daily as part of a treatment regimen achieved consistent virologic suppression in patients new to antiretroviral therapy.”

He added the tablet formulation of the drug offers a convenient treatment option for patients, as it does not require refrigeration and can be taken with or without food.

In April 2008, Abbott received marketing authorisation for a lower-strength tablet formulation of Kaletra from the European Commission.