500mg Invirase tablet approved in Europe

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A 500mg tablet formulation of Roche’s Invirase (saquinavir) has received marketing approval in the European Union.

The new tablet is designed for dosing with ritonavir, and the approved dosage is 1000mg twice daily after meals with 100mg of ritonavir taken at the same time. The 500mg tablet cuts the pill burden substantially for people taking saquinavir, and is also better tolerated than the Fortovase formulation of saquinavir, which Roche plans to stop making in 2006.

Marketing approval of the 500mg tablet formulation of Invirase was granted in the United States in December 2004.

Glossary

formulation

The physical form in which a drug is manufactured or administered. Examples of formulations include tablets, capsules, powders, and oral and injectable solutions. A drug may be available in multiple formulations.

pill burden

The number of tablets, capsules, or other dosage forms that a person takes on a regular basis. A high pill burden can make it difficult to adhere to an HIV treatment regimen.

It is anticipated that the 500mg formulation of Invirase will be available to patients in the United Kingdom within a month. Individuals currently taking the Invirase 200mg tablets and patients considering treatment with a protease inhibitor, will have the option of the 500mg formulation.