Abstract

AIDS: Early study results show that the protease inhibitor AG1343, being developed by Agouron Pharmaceuticals of La Jolla, California, does have biological activity against HIV in people. Eight patients, given 300 mg of AG1343 three times a day for periods ranging from 3 to 28 days, showed no clinically significant adverse events nor adverse laboratory changes. However, one showed a reduction of HIV in the blood by more than 99 percent, and an increase in CD4 count of 116. Viral load results for the others are not yet available. Agouron announced these results at the International Society of Antiviral Research just after another protease inhibitor, produced by Searle, was abandoned after it was found to have no antiviral activity in people despite good activity in the laboratory.