The Department of HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections of the Ministry of Health published technical note which defines clinical criteria for the use of the drug fostensavir 600 milligrams (mg) for the treatment of adults living with multidrug-resistant HIV.
In a statement, the ministry highlighted that the medicine was incorporated into the Unified Health System (SUS) in April 2024 and is the first in the class of binding inhibitors approved in the world. The medication works by preventing the HIV virus from entering cells.
According to the ministry, the evaluation and approval for the use of fostensavir 600 mg will be carried out centrally by the HIV and AIDS Surveillance Coordination, with the technical support of a group of experts in the management of viral multidrug resistance. Requests for the medication will be analyzed individually and all people living with HIV or AIDS who use the medication will be monitored.
“The prioritization of populations with multidrug resistance and higher mortality demonstrates the Ministry of Health’s commitment to quality of life and strengthening the national response to AIDS,” highlighted the ministry in the statement.
Understand
According to the technical note, fostensavir 600 mg has demonstrated, in clinical studies, efficacy in viral suppression and an increase in T-CD4+ lymphocyte counts in people living with HIV or AIDS with multidrug-resistant infection. “Furthermore, its safety profile was favorable, and the adverse events observed were mild, such as diarrhea and headache.”
“The drug represents an important therapeutic application in a population at high risk of disease progression and high mortality.”
