Pfizer has declared the results for a 96-week follow up data from the MERITES analysis, for HIV patients taking Celsentri/Selzentry (maraviroc) in combination with Combivir (zidovudine/lamivudine).
The results showed that naive HIV patients experienced comparable virologic suppression to undetectable levels and significantly greater increases in CD4 T-cell count, as compared to patients taking efavirenz in combination with zidovudine/lamivudine. The data also showed the favorable tolerability of Celsentri/Selzentry, which was associated with fewer discontinuations due to adverse events.
The MERITES results were presented at the 5th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Cape Town, South Africa.
Michael Saag, professor of Medicine and director of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said: “Durable HIV treatments are critical as they better ensure that patients remain on therapy, which can delay disease progression and help patients live considerably longer lives. These results further support maraviroc’s durability and safety profile and, therefore, offer the potential to enhance currently available treatment options for treatment-naive HIV patients.”