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Original Article
Volume 341:1865-1873 December 16, 1999 Number 25
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Efavirenz plus Zidovudine and Lamivudine, Efavirenz plus Indinavir, and Indinavir plus Zidovudine and Lamivudine in the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection in Adults
Schlomo Staszewski, M.D., Javier Morales-Ramirez, M.D., Karen T. Tashima, M.D., Anita Rachlis, M.D., Daniel Skiest, M.D., James Stanford, M.D., Richard Stryker, M.D., Philip Johnson, M.D., Dominic F. Labriola, Ph.D., Dianne Farina, Ph.D., Douglas J. Manion, M.D., Nancy M. Ruiz, M.D., for The Study 006 Team

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ABSTRACT

Background Efavirenz is a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We compared two regimens containing efavirenz, one with a protease inhibitor and the other with two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, with a standard three-drug regimen.

Methods The study subjects were 450 patients who had not previously been treated with lamivudine or any nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor or protease inhibitor. In this open-label study, patients were randomly assigned to one of three regimens: efavirenz (600 mg daily) plus zidovudine (300 mg twice daily) and lamivudine (150 mg twice daily); the protease inhibitor indinavir (800 mg every eight hours) plus zidovudine and lamivudine; or efavirenz plus indinavir (1000 mg every eight hours).

Results Suppression of plasma HIV-1 RNA to undetectable levels was achieved in more patients in the group given efavirenz plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors than in the group given indinavir plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (70 percent vs. 48 percent, P<0.001). The efficacy of the regimen of efavirenz plus indinavir was similar (53 percent) to that of the regimen of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine. CD4 cell counts increased significantly with all combinations (range of increases, 180 to 201 cells per cubic millimeter). More patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events in the group given indinavir and two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors than in the group given efavirenz and two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (43 percent vs. 27 percent, P=0.005).

Conclusions As antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1–infected adults, the combination of efavirenz, zidovudine, and lamivudine has greater antiviral activity and is better tolerated than the combination of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine.


Source Information

From the Klinikum der J.W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany (S.S.); Clinical Research of Puerto Rico, San Juan (J.M.-R.); Miriam Hospital, Providence, R.I. (K.T.T.); Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto (A.R.); University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas (D.S.); University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and the Kansas City AIDS Research Consortium, Kansas City (J.S.); Pacific Oaks Research, Beverly Hills, Calif. (R.S.); University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (P.J.); and Dupont Pharmaceuticals Company, Wilmington, Del. (D.F.L., D.F., D.J.M., N.M.R.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Manion at the Dupont Pharmaceuticals Company, Chestnut Run Plaza, Rm. HR 2003, 974 Centre Rd., Wilmington, DE 19805, or at douglas.j.manion{at}dupontpharma.com.

Full Text of this Article


Related Letters:

Efavirenz in HIV Infection
Casado J. L., Moreno S., Manion D. J., Ruiz N. M., Staszewski S.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 2000; 342:1290-1291, Apr 27, 2000. Correspondence

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