ISENTRESS(R) (raltegravir), Merck's First in Class Integrase Inhibitor, Reduced HIV Viral Load...

Tuesday August 5, 12:01 pm ET Efficacy and Tolerability Profile Consistent With Data Seen in Approved Treatment-Experienced Indication WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ISENTRESS® (raltegravir), Merck & Co., Inc.’s first-in-class integrase inhibitor, in combination with two other anti-HIV medicines, reduced HIV viral load to undetectable levels (less than 50 copies/mL) in 83 percent of previously untreated (treatment-naïve) HIV-infected patients which was comparable to that seen with efavirenz (Sustiva®/STOCRIN®)*, which reduced HIV viral load to undetectable levels in 84 percent of treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients when also combined with the same anti-HIV medicines in patients through 96 weeks of treatment. Patients taking ISENTRESS experienced a mean increase in CD4 cell counts of 221 cells/mm3 without adverse... [read full story]