Successful, long-term control of HIV replication necessitates a high degree of adherence (80%-99%) to the dosing schedule. The trend toward once-daily dosing in HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) is based on the association between adherence, treatment outcome, and patient preferences. Patients prefer simpler treatments, fewer pills, less-frequent dosing, and no food restrictions. When a regimen meets a patient's preferences, the patient is more likely to adhere to the regimen, and with good adherence, the regimen is more likely to be effective.

As a class, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) have been a prime focus for developing once-daily therapies primarily because they form the backbone of virtually all currently used regimens. Within the NRTI class, however, drugs differ in their pharmacokinetic properties, and thus in their suitability for once-daily dosing.

The discussions contained within The Pharmacology of Antiretroviral Nucleoside and Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs): Implications for Once-Daily Dosing will help you to understand the plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetic properties of NRTIs and how these properties determine a drug's appropriateness for once-daily dosing and placement within a once-daily regimen. This understanding will serve as the foundation on which you can construct simplified and effective therapies for individual patients.

Please take the time to order your copy today!

Sincerely,

David J. Back, PhD
Chair

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Faculty

CHAIR

This activity is designed for infectious disease specialists and pharmacists with a fundamental understanding of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients with HIV.

Activity Goal

The goal of this activity is to provide clinicians and pharmacists with the latest scientific and clinical information on once-daily antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.

Learning Objectives

After participating in this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Evaluate once-a-day antiviral agents and regimens on the basis of pharmacologic principles.
• Incorporate knowledge of clinically relevant plasma and intracellular drug interactions within the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class of antiviral agents when evaluating treatment strategies.
• Translate the importance of matching the pharmacokinetic profiles of various antiviral agent combinations to develop effective treatment strategies that reduce the emergence of resistant viral strains.
• Apply the principles of pharmacokinetics, symmetry, and drug interactions into rational selection of individualized once-a-day treatment regimens for treatment-naive and treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients.

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CME Information

Statement of Accreditation

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Projects In Knowledge designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 Category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

This CME newsletter is planned and implemented as an independent CME activity in accordance with the ACCME Essential Areas and Policies.

Successful completion for up to 1 hour of CME credit requires a passing score of 70% or higher on the posttest. Full instructions for submission are included on the posttest for this newsletter.

Contract for Mutual Responsibility in CME/CE

CE Information

Statement of Accreditation

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the ACPE Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. The ACPE Universal Program Number assigned to this program, for 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU), is 052-000-04-003-H02.

Disclosure Information

The Disclosure Policy of Projects In Knowledge requires that faculty participating in a CME/CE activity disclose to the audience: any significant relationship they may have with a pharmaceutical or medical equipment company, product, or service that may be mentioned as part of their presentation; any relationship with the commercial supporter of this activity; if discussion includes 1) therapies that are unapproved for use or are investigational; 2) ongoing research; or 3) preliminary data. Faculty will disclose such discussion.

For complete prescribing information on the products discussed during this CME/CE activity, please see your current Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

David J. Back, PhD, has received grant/research support/honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc, and GlaxoSmithKline; and is on the speakers bureau of Gilead Sciences, Inc and GlaxoSmithKline.

David M. Burger, PharmD, PhD, has received grant/research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Charles W. Flexner, MD, has received grant/research support/honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co, Inc, and Pfizer Inc.

John G. Gerber MD, has received honoraria from and has served as a consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Peer Reviewer has disclosed no significant relationships.

There may be discussion of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices in this activity.

The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of Projects In Knowledge.

This CME/CE activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge solely as an educational service. Specific patient care decisions are the responsibility of the physician caring for the patient.

Peer Review process provided by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Office of CME. To find out more information click here.

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This independent CME/CE activity is supported by an educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Target Audience
This activity is designed for infectious disease specialists and pharmacists with a fundamental understanding of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients with HIV.

Activity Goal
The goal of this activity is to provide clinicians and pharmacists with the latest scientific and clinical information on once-daily antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.