New data about IDX899, an experimental next generation NNRTI, was presented at the conference showing reduced viral load in test tube studies both in wild-type HIV and strains with NNRTI-resistance mutations. The drug demonstrated a high barrier to resistance. IDX899 also showed favourable safety in healthy HIV-negative volunteers.
The design of this proof-of- concept study had 30 participants who were randomly assigned to receive IDX899 monotherapy at one of three oral doses – 200 mg, 400mg or 800mg once daily – or else a placebo for seven days. All patients receiving IDX899 after seven days achieved significant drops in viral load. Dr Carlos Zala, from the University of Buenos Aires, who presented the study, reported that IDX899 side effects were generally mild and similar to those seen in the placebo-treated patients and that it was well tolerated and demonstrated potent HIV- 1 antiviral activity at all tested doses.
Zala C, et al. IDX899, a novel HIV-1 NNRTI with high barrier to resistance, provides suppression of HIV viral load in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected subjects. 17th International AIDS Conference, Mexico City, Abstract THAB04O2, 2008.
