Pharmaceutical Field - Reyataz is ‘milestone’ in children’s HIV treatment

Reyataz is ‘milestone’ in children’s HIV treatment

HIV treatment Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) has been granted a paediatric indication in the EU.

The European Commission has approved the boosted form of Bristol-Myers Squibbs’ drug to treat HIV-1 infection in paediatric patients aged six to eighteen years and greater than 15 kg, as part of combination HIV therapy.

“Globally, more than two million children under 15 years of age are living with HIV, and between 1,000 and 1,500 become newly infected with HIV every day,” said Dr Gareth Tudor-Williams, Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, St. Mary's Hospital. “Despite the availability of treatment options, there are still many unmet needs in this patient population. The European Commission approval of Reyataz is a milestone in addressing these challenges for children with HIV. We look forward to Reyataz capsules being available for our paediatrics patients across the European Union.”

In 2004, Reyataz was the first once-daily protease inhibitor to be launched in the EU for pre-treated HIV patients, while the use of the boosted form in combination with other antiretrovirals was approved for treatment-naïve patients in June 2008.