title: Enfuvirtide: a review of its use in the management of HIV infection.
abstract: Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon), a fusion inhibitor, is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV infection in treatment-experienced adults and children aged >6 years. The addition of subcutaneous enfuvirtide to an optimised antiretroviral background regimen improved the virological and immunological response in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients in the two large, well designed TORO (T-20 vs Optimised Regimen Only) trials. Although injection-site reactions occurred almost universally in enfuvirtide recipients, they were rarely treatment-limiting. Enfuvirtide was otherwise generally well tolerated. The challenge for clinicians is in determining the appropriate timing for enfuvirtide initiation, which requires consideration of the likelihood of a better virological response with the construction of an active background regimen versus the potential for a low rate of adherence to therapy in patients in the early stages of treatment and/or disease development. Enfuvirtide is a novel antiretroviral that is effective in HIV-infected patients whose treatment options are limited by multi-class antiretroviral resistance.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oldfield
authors.forename: Gillian M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plosker
mesh_terms: D000077560:Enfuvirtide; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000077560:Enfuvirtide