Latest Research Supports New AIDS Drug

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Between 42 percent and 47 percent of the patients taking maraviroc reached reduced levels of the AIDS virus in their bodies, compared to 17 percent of the placebo group.

"There were no apparent side effects or toxicity differences in patients that got maraviroc vs. placebo," Gulick said. "It looked safe and generally well-tolerated over 48 weeks."

The drug works by preventing the AIDS virus from binding to a receptor on immune cells known as CCR5. Some people are born without the receptor and are naturally resistant to the AIDS virus.

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There are caveats with maraviroc: Doctors must give a $1,900 test to patients to make sure their strain of HIV would be susceptible to the drug, Gulick said. Also, researchers must follow patients on maraviroc to see if any unusual medical problems affect them over time, he said.

Dr. Barry S. Zingman, medical director of the AIDS Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, and one of the doctors taking part in the study, said he has had good experiences prescribing maraviroc.

However, "many patients who need a new treatment option cannot use it" because they don't have the necessary strain of HIV, said Zingman, who has received research grants to study the drug.

In addition, he said, "there are significant interactions between maraviroc and other medications for HIV infection, making it a bit complicated to prescribe in the combination regimens that are standard around the world."

More information

Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the list of the latest approved HIV drugs.

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