Pfizer reports success in Merit ES follow-up analysis

Pfizer has reported success in its Merit ES analysis at the 96-week follow-up stage.

In a statement, the company said the study showed that treatment-naive HIV patients taking Combivir (zidovudine/lamivudine) with Celsentri/Selzentry (maraviroc) showed comparable virologic suppression to undetectable levels.

Additionally, they demonstrated significantly greater increases in their CD4 T-cell counts during the period when compared to those participants taking efavirenz in combination with zidovudine/lamivudine.

Dr Michael Saag, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Aids Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who presented the findings of the study, said that durable treatments for HIV are “critical”.

“These results further support maraviroc’s durability and safety profile and, therefore, offer the potential to enhance currently available treatment options for treatment-naive HIV patients,” he added.

Earlier this month, the company announced that it has received approval from the European commission, under the EU merger regulation, regarding its pending acquisition of Wyeth.