Rifabutin: FDA Advisory Committee Recommends for MAC Prophylaxis

On September 24 the FDA's Antiviral Drug Products Advisory
Committee recommended the approval of rifabutin (brand name
Mycobutin) for prevention of MAC. Two studies conducted by the
drug's sponsor, Adria Laboratories, found that volunteers with
T-helper counts less than or equal to 200 developed MAC
bacteremia (shown by positive blood cultures) about half as often
in the group given rifabutin, compared to the group given a
placebo.

The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its
advisory committees, but it almost always does so. Official
approval of rifabutin is expected in the coming weeks or months.

For more information about rifabutin, see the interview with
Kenneth Mayer, M. D., in this issue.