GlaxoSmithKline Launches Specialist HIV Company Nov 3, 2009
-ViiV Healthcare has 10 medicines currently available including therapies such as Epzicom/Kivexa (abacavir sulfate+lamivudine) and Selzentry/Celsentri (maraviroc). -Revenues from these available treatments generated sales of GBP1. (SmartMoney)
Row over seizure of low-cost drugs Aug 10, 2009
In February 2009, the AIDS medicine abacavir which was bound for Nigeria was seized in Amsterdam and was released after a complaint by the UN, which was the recipient. In May 2009, the generic drug amoxicililin (used in treating many bacterial infections) was seized in Frankfurt airport en route from India to Vanuatu in transit. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
GSK to improve Aids drugs access with 60m spending Jul 15, 2009
It has agreed to a new free voluntary licensing deal for Aids drug abacavir, or Ziagen, with generic drug maker Aspen Pharmacare, in which it has a 16 percent stake. Aspen will manufacture a cheaper generic version of the drug. (Business Report, South Africa)
QIAGEN Transfers Distribution Rights for Transplantation Testing Product Portfolio and Related Assets to LinkMed Jun 16, 2009
Such tests include, among others, the typing of the HLA-B*5701 allele -- a test to assess the risk of AIDS patients for severe adverse reactions to the widely prescribed HIV drug component Abacavir. The agreement also includes options for QIAGEN to distribute future Olerup SSP(r) assays for pharmacogenetic applications. (Primezone Releases)
Drug shortages roll back the clock on beating AIDS in Africa Apr 10, 2009
Yet one of the drugs, Abacavir, was unavailable at public clinics in Free State because of the budget problems. Without a supply of Abacavir, none of the drugs would be effective. (Globe and Mail)
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Leads To Pulmonary Hypertension, Study Suggests Mar 2, 2009
The research by Dr. Chen's group "showed that several HAART drugs including ritonavir, indinavir, lamivudine, abacavir and AZT can cause endothelial dysfunction through decreasing eNOS expression and increasing oxidative stress in porcine pulmonary arteries and [human pulmonary artery endothelial cells]. Consequently, reducing oxidative stress by selected antioxidants may be able to prevent HAART drugs-associated pulmonary artery hypertension.". Journal reference. (Science Daily)
HIV & AIDS Feb 7, 2009
They include zidovudine (Retrovir), lamivudine (Epivir), didanosine (Videx), stavudine (Zerit) and abacavir (Ziagen) ... Approximately 5 percent of people treated with abacavir experience hypersensitivity reactions such as a rash, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain ... If you've had a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir, avoid taking the drug again. (CNN -- Health)
