[e-drug] Hoffman La-Roche: Dumping Old Meds on Africa

[Richard Jefferys <rjefferys@hotmail.com>]

E-DRUG: Hoffman La-Roche: Dumping Old Meds on Africa
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[crossposted from Health-gap with thanks. 2-drug combinations have
been proven to be inferior to 3-drug ARV combinations.
Please note that Roche has not followed other companies in reducing
prices of their ARVs in Africa's public and private sector. NN]

This is horrible. Invirase is the first, hideously inadequate (and
low-dose)
formulation of saquinavir that Hoffman-LaRoche tried to bring to
market just
to be the first company to get a protease inhibitor approved. Activism
and
outrage eventually forced them to replace the drug with a better
formulation
at a better dose (Fortovase). Similarly, Hoffman LaRoche's ddC (HIVID)
is
the least effective, least used and arguably most toxic nucleoside
analog
antiretroviral.

Now we know what they're doing with their left over drug supply. And
calling
it "compassion."

Richard Jefferys
Email: rjefferys@hotmail.com

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West Afr J Med 2000 Oct-Dec;19(4):265-8

Management of HIV infection in Nigeria with zalcitabine in combination
with
saquinavir mesylate: preliminary findings.

Akinsete I, Njoku OS, Okanny CC, Chukwuani CM, Akanmu AS;
Hivid/Inverase
Compassionate Programme Investigation Team.

Department of Haematology, College of Medicine of Unilag, Idi-Araba
Lagos.

The efficacy and safety of a combination therapy with two
anti-retroviral
drugs, zalcitabine (ddC) and saquinavir mesylate was evaluated in 24
adult
Nigerian patients with HIV infection. The result of an interim
analysis
after a 6-month course of therapy is presented herein. Patients were
given
zalcitabine 2.25 mg and saquinavir 1800 mg per day. Efficacy was
evaluated
by improvement in the CD4 cell count and disappearance and/or
resolution of
clinical signs and symptoms from the patient baseline condition.
Tolerability and safety were assessed by the occurrence of adverse
event and
monitoring of biochemical parameters such as alanine transaminase,
alkaline
phosphatase and total bilirubin. The haemogram profile of patients was
also
monitored. There was clinical improvement in 79.2% of the patients, a
minimal increase in the CD4 cell count was observed and the incidence
of
adverse event was 40%. The haematological and biochemical profile of
the
patients were not significantly affected by treatment (p > 0.05). We
therefore conclude that the drug cocktail comprising zalcitabine and
saquinavir does posses good potentials for effective management of
Nigerian
patients with HIV infection. However, it is imperative and important
to
continue treatment with the drugs for a longer time in order to
demonstrate
sustained response.

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