Raltegravir (Isentress)

Raltegravir (Isentress) is an HIV-1 integrase strand-transfer inhibitor with potent antiretroviral activity. It belongs to a new class of antiretrovirals called integrase inhibitors. The drug works against HIV's integrase protein, blocking its ability to integrate its genetic code into human cells.

Raltegravir (Isentress), formerly known as MK-0518, is the first licensed integrase inhibitor. It was given marketing approval in the US in 2007 and in Europe in early 2008 for use by treatment-experienced people. Raltegravir’s approval was based upon the results from the BENCHMRK I and II studies that showed it had a durable anti-HIV effect in people with limited treatment options.

The drug was approved for use in initial antiretroviral regimens by both the UK and US in 2009, based on 48-week data from the STARTMRK clinical trial. As an initial regimen, raltegravir (given in combination with tenofovir and emtricitabine) sustained viral suppression at rates equivalent to an efavirenz-based regimen.1

Raltegravir was approved for once-daily dosing in the European Union and United States in 2017.

References

  1. Mena A et al. A pilot study assessing Raltegravir (Isentress) QD versus BID in HIV patients inclluded in a simplification trial. 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, San Franciso, abstract H-920, 2009
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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