Javier Ena, Concepción Amador, Conxa Benito, Francisco PasquauHIV Unit, Hospital Marina Baixa, Villajoyosa, SpainAbstract: We reviewed the current information available on nevirapine immediate- and extended-release formulations and its role in single-dose and combination antiretroviral therapy.Nevirapine was approved in 1996 and was the first non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor available for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.Nevirapine has demonstrated good efficacy and a well-characterized safety profile.A major drawback pH Test Strips/Labels is the low genetic barrier, allowing the emergence of resistance in the presence of single mutations in the reverse-transcriptase gene.This shortcoming is particularly relevant when nevirapine is administered in a single dose to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 infection, compromising the efficacy of future non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase–inhibitor regimens.
Studies published recently have probed the noninferiority of nevirapine compared to ritonavir-boosted atazanavir with both tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine in antiretroviral treatment–naïve patients.In 2011, a new formulation of nevirapine (nevirapine extended release) that allowed once-daily dosing was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and by the European Medicines Agency.VERxVe, a study comparing nevirapine extended release with nevirapine immediate release in antiretroviral treatment–naïve patients, and TRANxITION, a study carried out in antiretroviral treatment–experienced patients who switched therapy from nevirapine immediate release to nevirapine extended release, provided data on the noninferiority RF/Antenna Cable of the new formulation of nevirapine compared with nevirapine immediate release in terms of efficacy and safety.Nevirapine extended release will further increase the durability and persistence of nevirapine-containing antiretroviral therapy, allowing once-daily dosing regimens.Keywords: nevirapine extended release, efficacy, safety, resistance, clinical practice.