Tipranavir: a novel protease inhibitor for HIV therapy

Abstract

Tipranavir (TPV) is a nonpeptidic protease inhibitor with potent in vitro activity against most HIV-1 strains resistant to other protease inhibitors. In vitro data have shown that resistance to TPV develops slowly. When coadministered with ritonavir (RTV) as a booster, TPV has shown potent antiviral activity in multiple antiretroviral-experienced patients. In the RESIST-1 and RESIST-2 studies, the efficacy and safety of TPV/RTV (500/200 mg twice daily) in highly treatment-experienced HIV-1-positive patients was assessed. Analysis at 48 weeks showed that TPV/RTV-containing regimens significantly improved immune and virological responses compared with a RTV-boosted comparator protease inhibitor plus optimized background regimen. TPV is generally well tolerated; nevertheless, clinical hepatitis and liver decompensation have been associated to its use, together with an indication of an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Extensive listing of drug–drug interactions have been reported with TPV.