Adefovir Dipivoxil (PREVEON) Improved Expanded-Access Program

Gilead Sciences has significantly broadened the entry criteria for access to PREVEON (tm) (adefovir dipivoxil), an experimental antiviral being tested for treatment of HIV. The new program will no longer require specific viral load or CD4 values, but is open to patients who have failed at least two nucleoside analogs and one protease inhibitor, who need new therapeutic options for treatment of HIV, and who are not excluded due to illnesses or laboratory values which raise safety concerns with the drug. This program resulted from discussions between Gilead and AIDS advocates, who wanted entry criteria based on the patient's overall medical condition, without automatic exclusions due to viral load or CD4 numbers (see AIDS Treatment News #288, February 6, 1998 ).

The new program will also allow patients to either (a) be randomly assigned to the 60 mg or 120 mg dose, or (b) choose to be assigned to the higher dose. The drug is given as one tablet per day.

For more information about the expanded-access program for PREVEON, call 800-GILEAD-5 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time.