FDA: HCV Drug Interferes With HIV Meds

A new drug for hepatitis C can reduce the effectiveness of some HIV medications if they are taken together and vice versa, the FDA is warning.

In a drug safety communication, the agency warned that there are important drug interactions between boceprevir (Victrelis) and anti-HIV protease inhibitors boosted with ritonavir (Norvir).

Boceprevir, approved last year, is a novel direct-acting agent targeting the NS3/4A protease of hepatitis C. It's taken with ribavirin and pegylated interferon-alfa to treat genotype 1 disease.

Another such drug, telaprevir (Incivek), was also approved last year and its prescribing information already includes cautions about drug interactions with HIV medications.

Neither drug is approved to treat patients coinfected with both viruses.

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/6pju2wq

Source: MedPage Today