Once-daily combined abacavir/3TC pill available in the UK on a named patient basis

2 March 2004

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A fixed-dose combination pill of the nucleoside analogues (NRTIs) abacavir and 3TC is being made available, on a named patient basis, in the UK.

The tablet contains 600mg of abacavir and 300mg of 3TC and is taken once daily as part of a HAART regimen.

As with the existing twice-daily separate doses of abacavir and 3TC, the once-daily combined pill can be taken with or without food.

Glossary

nucleoside

A precursor to a building block of DNA or RNA. Nucleosides must be chemically changed into nucleotides before they can be used to make DNA or RNA.

named patient basis prescribing

A means of access to an unlicensed drug, in which a doctor requests supplies from its manufacturer for a specific individual.

clinician

A doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional who is active in looking after patients.

fixed-dose combination (FDC)

Two or more drugs contained in a single dosage form, such as a capsule or tablet. By reducing the number of pills a person must take each day, fixed-dose combination drugs may help improve adherence.

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.

Although the abacavir/3TC pill has yet to receive formal approval in the UK, its manufacturers, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), are making it available to patients aged over 12 years who weigh over 40kg and for whom “a regimen containing the nucleosides abacavir and lamivudine [3TC] in a single once-daily pill offers the best therapeutic option, in the opinion of the prescribing clinician. This may include patients for whom adherence, pill burden or food and fluid restrictions are major problems.”

In September last year, data from the ZODIAC study presented at the ICAAC conference in Chicago showed that once-daily dosing of abacavir and 3TC was just as safe and effective as the twice-daily separate doses (see link to news story below).

Patients who believe that the combined abacavir/3TC pill would be suitable for them should discuss this with their regular HIV doctor. Any doctor who wishes to prescribe the pill should contact the GSK medical information line on 0800 085 8747. The medical information line cannot deal with enquiries from individual patients.