Highlights at the 4th International Workshop
on HIV
Drug Resistance and Treatment Strategies
Written by Jules Levin
Sitges, Spain, June 12-16 2000
Preliminary Report
This meeting used to be called the Resistance Workshop. It's taking place in
Sitges, Spain which is a small resort town about 30 minutes outside of
Barcelona. Sitges is on the coast of the Mediteranian and the coast is lined
with 2-5 story condominium complexes. The view from my 5th floor terrace is a
compelling view for several miles up the winding coast beyond the actual town of
Sitges, which I haven't visited yet but plan to and I'm told is very quaint and
interesting. The local people are friendly and I was able to watch the game 3
Laker-Pacer matchup on the European sports channel. The commentary was in
Spanish, so I didn't understand a word but it was very exciting to be able to
watch the game live from Europe. The coffee here is better than in the USA. My
sleep pattern stinks. I didn't sleep on the plane at all. Upon arrival in my
hotel room I fell asleep for six hours during the daytime and was unable to
sleep last night after the Laker-Pacer game. So here I am at the computer with a
brief summary of what to expect at this 4-day meeting. Firstly, every year the
organizers for this conference hold a Feedback Symposium in New York City to
summarize the information reported here. This year NATAP is holding the meeting
for the organizers at NYU Medical Center on Wednesday, June 21 from 5pm to 9pm.
The speakers are Marty Markowitz, MD, from the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research
Center, John Mellors, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh, and Brendan Larder,
PhD, from Virco, the company offering phenotypic, genotypic, and "virtual
phenotypic" resistance testing. A buffet dinner starts at 5pm and speakers
begin at 6pm. If you would like to attend this meeting, contact the NATAP
offices at 212 219-0106 or 888-26-NATAP. Here is a brief look at some
interesting key data topics being discussed at the conference. More detailed
reports will be forthcoming.
New Antiretovirals-
PMPA--its effect on clinical isolates with various degrees of NRTI resistance.
DAPD is a new NRTI which has previously been reported to be effective against most viruses with NRTI resistance. Short term monotherapy data on its antiviral activity is being presented here.
DMP-450 is a new protease inhibitor. The new information presented here is early antiviral activity in a small number of treatment naÔve individuals.
BMS-232632 is a new once-daily PI. New information on its resistance profile are discussed here
Mycophenolate acid (MA) exhibits synergy in vitro with guanosine analogue NRTIs abacavir and ddI against wild-type and NRTI-resistant HIV. Data is presented here from a small short term pilot study in 7 highly treatment experienced individuals who received Mawith abacavir and ddI in a multiple drug regimen.
ABT-378 is a new protease inhibitor with potential utility for PI resistance. Presentations here discuss newly reported clinically relevant phenotypic and genotypic breakpoints and antiviral activity in multi-PI experienced individuals, and resistance in treatment naives.