Cobicistat
Encyclopedia
Cobicistat is a drug under experimental investigation for use in the treatment of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Like ritonovir (Norvir), cobicistat is of interest not for its anti-HIV properties, but rather its ability to inhibit liver enzymes that metabolize
other medications used to treat HIV, notably elvitegravir
, an HIV integrase inhibitor
currently under investigation itself. By combining cobicistat with elvitegravir, higher concentrations of elvitgravir are achieved in the body with lower dosing, theoretically enhancing elvitgravir's viral suppression while diminishing its adverse side-effects. In contrast with ritonavir, the only currently approved booster, cobicistat has no anti-HIV activity of is own.
If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cobicistat will be part of the four-drug, fixed-dose combination HIV treatment known as the "Quad Pill". The Quad Pill is currently in Phase III clinical trials, and is owned by Gilead Sciences
.
Like ritonovir (Norvir), cobicistat is of interest not for its anti-HIV properties, but rather its ability to inhibit liver enzymes that metabolize
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
other medications used to treat HIV, notably elvitegravir
Elvitegravir
Elvitegravir is an investigational new drug for the treatment of HIV infection. It acts as an integrase inhibitor. It is undergoing Phase III clinical trial conducted by the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, which licensed EVG from Japan Tobacco in March 2008.According to the results of...
, an HIV integrase inhibitor
Integrase inhibitor
Integrase inhibitors are a class of antiretroviral drug designed to block the action of integrase, a viral enzyme that inserts the viral genome into the DNA of the host cell. Since integration is a vital step in retroviral replication, blocking it can halt further spread of the virus...
currently under investigation itself. By combining cobicistat with elvitegravir, higher concentrations of elvitgravir are achieved in the body with lower dosing, theoretically enhancing elvitgravir's viral suppression while diminishing its adverse side-effects. In contrast with ritonavir, the only currently approved booster, cobicistat has no anti-HIV activity of is own.
If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cobicistat will be part of the four-drug, fixed-dose combination HIV treatment known as the "Quad Pill". The Quad Pill is currently in Phase III clinical trials, and is owned by Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics. For many years since the company was founded, the company concentrated primarily on antiviral drugs to treat patients infected with HIV, hepatitis B or influenza. In 2006, Gilead acquired two...
.