Boehringer Ingelheim Initiates NEwArT Study Comparing Viramune(R) (nevirapine) to a Ritonavir-Boosted Atazanavir-based Regimen in Treatment-Naive HI...( RIDGEFIELD Conn. Nov. 28 /- Boehr...),Health

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., makers of Viramune(R) (nevirapine) tablets, announced today that it has begun to enroll patients in the NEwArT study to include 18 planned sites across the United States. The goal of the NEwArT study is to compare the efficacy and safety of VIRAMUNE, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) versus atazanavir, a protease inhibitor (PI) boosted with ritonavir. Both agents will be combined with the fixed dose combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine (Truvada(R)). The NEwArT trial will enroll 150 HIV-positive patients who have not previously been treated with antiretroviral drugs.

"The NEwArT trial may help patients and physicians better understand the role of nevirapine within today's evolving treatment strategies and provide more information on selecting treatment options for first-line therapy in HIV-positive patients," explained lead study investigator Edwin DeJesus, M.D., medical director of the Orlando Immunology Center.

The NEwArT (efficacy and safety of NEvirapine compared With Atazanavir boosted with Ritonavir and a background of Truvada in HIV-1 infected patients who have received no previous antiretroviral treatment) study is a Phase IV, open-label, randomized, multicenter trial with a primary endpoint of virologic response at 48 weeks, defined as a viral load <50 copies/mL at two consecutive visits prior to Week 48 and without subsequent rebound or change of antiretroviral therapy by Week 48. Secondary endpoints will include an evaluation of change in fasting lipids.

Patients will be randomized to receive either 200 mg of VIRAMUNE twice daily or 300 mg of atazanavir boosted with 100 mg of ritonavir once daily. Patients in the VIRAMUNE arm will begin their treatment with 200 mg once daily increased to 200 mg twice daily after two weeks. The current VIRAMUNE CD4+ cell criteria are being applied to both arms of the study. All pati
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