Health Canada Approves Novel Treatment for HIV

Source: CNW Group
CELSENTRI(TM) (maraviroc) Tablets Available, First in a New Class of
Oral HIV Medicines in More than a Decade

KIRKLAND, QC, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - CELSENTRI (maraviroc) tablets, the first in a new class of oral HIV medicines in more than 10 years, is now approved and available in Canada. CELSENTRI blocks entry of HIV into T cells (CD4+ white blood cells), significantly reducing the level of HIV in treatment-experienced patients.
"There is an important need for new medicines to help the many Canadians living with HIV/AIDS who are running out of effective medications to control the virus," said Dr. Sharon Walmsley, MSc, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto. "The approval of maraviroc is a significant breakthrough in that it provides a new class that blocks an early step in the viral life cycle that can be used for people with HIV who have developed resistance to our currently available drugs."
CELSENTRI is the first in a class of drugs known as CCR5 antagonists, which block the CCR5 co-receptor, the virus' main entry route into the body's immune cells or CD4+ cells. CELSENTRI stops the CCR5-tropic HIV-1, which is also known as "R5 virus" on the surface of the cell before it enters, rather than fighting the virus inside the cell as do all other classes of oral HIV medicines. A tropism test confirms that a patient is infected with R5 virus.
Earlier this year, Health Canada granted CELSENTRI priority review status. Priority reviews are granted to medicines that would represent an improved overall risk/benefit profile for a disease or condition not adequately managed by a medicine currently available in Canada.
"The approval of CELSENTRI is a Pfizer research and development success story," said Dr. Bernard Prigent, Vice President & Medical Director, Pfizer Canada. "Our hope is that CELSENTRI will offer a much needed new option to many people living with HIV in Canada."

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