Rilpivirine: a novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. 2009

Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
Clinical Research Fellow, Imperial College London, Division of Medicine, Ground Floor, Clinical Trials, Winston Churchill Wing, London W21PG, London, UK. l.garvey@imperial.ac.uk

Combination antiretroviral therapy has transformed the prognosis and life expectancy of HIV-1 infected individuals in resource-rich settings. British guidelines currently recommend the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) efavirenz as part of first-line treatment in therapy-naive HIV-1 infected individuals. However, efavirenz is limited by its low genetic barrier to the development of resistance, together with its potential for CNS toxicities. To overcome these obstacles, several 'next-generation' NNRTIs are in various stages of clinical development. Here, we review the journey of rilpivirine (also known as TMC278, Tibotec), from the discovery of the chemical compound, through successful Phase I and II development, to its current position of being studied in international Phase III trials for the treatment of therapy-naive HIV-1 infected subjects using a 25 mg daily dose. Pharmacokinetic findings and food and drug interactions are discussed, together with safety profile. Rilpivirine has demonstrated high antiviral activity (including against NNRTI-resistant isolates) in vitro, with similar rates of virological suppression in therapy-naive individuals at 96 weeks when compared to efavirenz. Rilpivirine seems to be well tolerated with less CNS disturbance than efavirenz, and has non-teratogenic potential; however, unfavorable interactions with acid suppressant medications will require heightened vigilance when rilpivirine is used in widespread clinical practice.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009570 Nitriles Organic compounds containing the -CN radical. The concept is distinguished from CYANIDES, which denotes inorganic salts of HYDROGEN CYANIDE. Nitrile
D011743 Pyrimidines A family of 6-membered heterocyclic compounds occurring in nature in a wide variety of forms. They include several nucleic acid constituents (CYTOSINE; THYMINE; and URACIL) and form the basic structure of the barbiturates.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000068696 Rilpivirine A diarylpyrimidine derivative and REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITOR with antiviral activity against HIV-1 that is used in the treatment of HIV INFECTIONS. It is also used in combination with other ANTI-HIV AGENTS, since ANTIVIRAL DRUG RESISTANCE emerges rapidly when it is used alone. R278474,Rilpivirine HCl,Rilpivirine Hydrochloride,TMC 278,TMC-278,TMC278,278, TMC,HCl, Rilpivirine,Hydrochloride, Rilpivirine
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015658 HIV Infections Includes the spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus infections that range from asymptomatic seropositivity, thru AIDS-related complex (ARC), to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HTLV-III Infections,HTLV-III-LAV Infections,T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human,HIV Coinfection,Coinfection, HIV,Coinfections, HIV,HIV Coinfections,HIV Infection,HTLV III Infections,HTLV III LAV Infections,HTLV-III Infection,HTLV-III-LAV Infection,Infection, HIV,Infection, HTLV-III,Infection, HTLV-III-LAV,Infections, HIV,Infections, HTLV-III,Infections, HTLV-III-LAV,T Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human
D054303 HIV Reverse Transcriptase A reverse transcriptase encoded by the POL GENE of HIV. It is a heterodimer of 66 kDa and 51 kDa subunits that are derived from a common precursor protein. The heterodimer also includes an RNAse H activity (RIBONUCLEASE H, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) that plays an essential role the viral replication process. Reverse Transcriptase, HIV,Reverse Transcriptase, Human Immunodeficiency Virus,Transcriptase, HIV Reverse
D018565 Food-Drug Interactions The pharmacological result, either desirable or undesirable, of drugs interacting with components of the diet. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Drug-Food Interactions,Food Interactions,Drug Food Interactions,Drug-Food Interaction,Food Drug Interactions,Food Interaction,Food-Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug-Food,Interaction, Food,Interaction, Food-Drug,Interactions, Drug-Food,Interactions, Food,Interactions, Food-Drug
D018894 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Inhibitors of reverse transcriptase (RNA-DIRECTED DNA POLYMERASE), an enzyme that synthesizes DNA on an RNA template. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor,Inhibitors, Reverse Transcriptase,Inhibitor, Reverse Transcriptase,Transcriptase Inhibitor, Reverse

Related Publications

Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
March 2013, Klinicka mikrobiologie a infekcni lekarstvi,
Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
February 2013, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy,
Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
August 2008, Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000),
Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
January 2014, Expert review of anti-infective therapy,
Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
January 1992, Advances in experimental medicine and biology,
Lucy Garvey, and Alan Winston
April 2005, Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998),
Copied contents to your clipboard!