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Title: Maraviroc Treatment Improves CD-Positive Cell Rebound in Patients With HIV: Presented at AIDS 2008
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2276AA.htm
Doctor's Guide
August 7, 2008

By Kate Jongbloed

MEXICO CITY -- August 7, 2008 -- Treatment with the cell entry inhibitor maraviroc increases the number of CD4-positive cells among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), researchers explained here at the 17th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008).

"These findings suggest that maraviroc treatment increases the CD4-positive cell counts above and beyond what is expected for a given viral load reduction," said lead author David Asmuth, MD, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, speaking here on August 5 at his poster presentation.

Dr. Asmuth and colleagues reported the results of a phase 3 study that included 1,049 treatment-experienced patients. Subjects were randomised in a double-blind manner into groups receiving one or two 300-mg doses per day of maraviroc or placebo and were followed for 48 weeks. Subjects also received combination therapy based on optimised background therapy determined by their physician.

The participants, about 90% men between the ages of 40 and 52 years of age, entered the trial with average CD4-positive cell counts falling below 200 cells/mm². Over the course of the trial period, as many as 47% of participants experienced an increase in their CD4 cell counts to a level greater than 200 cell/mm².

"Significantly greater and faster increases in CD4-positive cell counts were observed in patients receiving maraviroc treatment versus the placebo," noted Dr. Asmuth.

Dr. Asmuth added that maraviroc led to an increased CD4-positive cell count and decreased HIV viral load among those who received treatment, although these results did not differ significantly between individuals who received 1 or 2 doses per day.

Among placebo patients, the median CD4-positive cell counts increased by 24 cells over the 48-week course of the trial. In comparison, CD4-positive cell counts increased by 92 cells in the once-daily dosage and 103 cells in the twice-daily regimen. The difference between the active drug and placebo was significant (P = .0182).

The researchers identified several predictors of CD4-positive cell count increases: baseline CD4-positive cell count, viral load, and age of the individual.

Dr. Asmuth noted that the increase in CD4-positive cell counts occurred inversely to falls in viral load.

Funding for this study was provided by Pfizer, Inc., New London, Connecticut.


[Presentation title: CD4+ Cell Restoration After 48 Weeks in the Maraviroc Treatment-Experienced Trials MOTIVATE 1 and 2. Abstract TUPE0050]

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