Ritonavir data

Phase I/II data with the Abbott protease inhibitor were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showing prolonged efficacy at the highest dose tested, but loss of effect at lower doses that could be due to mutation of the virus.

The trial randomized 84 patients to receive doses of 300, 400, 500, or 600 mg twice daily, or placebo. A total of 76 patients continued through the initial four-week placebo-controlled phase to the maintenance phase of the study. Viral load decreased by 80, 85, 89, and 93 percent from baseline for the respective doses of the drug, after four weeks (p<0.01 as compared to placebo). ...