By Sean Henahan, Access Excellence

VANCOUVER (7/8/96)- A simple glass of orange juice can greatly enhance the absorption of a potent experimental AIDS drug, reported researchers at the XI International AIDS Conference.

Delavirdine is one of a number of promising new AIDS drugs that can reduce HIV serum levels when given in combination with other antiretroviral agents. However, too little stomach acid, a complication of AIDS, can interfere with the absorption of delavirdine.

Researchers in the Laboratory for Antiviral Research in the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy reported that a glass of orange juice boosts the level of stomach acid and, in turn, the level of the drug in the blood of those receiving it.

The researchers targeted certain concentrations of delavirdine in patients and studied the factors that prevented achieving those targets. The research showed that large changes in blood levels of delavirdine can result from very small changes in absorption, reported Dr. Gene Morse.

"If patients have reduced stomach acid, they may absorb less drug and may not receive adequate therapeutic benefit," he added. In the study, 20 patients swallowed a consumable, radiotelemetry device that, upon reaching the stomach, sent a signal to a computer that recorded their gastric-acid levels. Patients with low levels were given orange juice or glutamic acid along with delavirdine. Both were effective in boosting acid and drug levels to the point where the expected therapeutic benefit should be achieved," Morse noted.

Delavirdine is a second generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It is one a new class of bisheteroarylpiperazine (BHAP) antiretroviral compounds. Laboratory studies indicate that serum levels achieved with current dosing regimens are 100 times the minimum inhibitory concentration for delavirdine inhibition of HIV replication and HIV-reverse transcriptase activity.

Related information on the Internet

XIth International AIDS Conference

JAMA HIV Info.

HIV Replication Primer

HIV Pathogenesis

YAHOO AIDS DIRECTORY