Nelfinavir : A review of its use in the management of HIV infection

• Published in: Drugs (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 65; no. 15; pp. 2209 - 2244
• Main Authors: PERRY, Caroline M, FRAMPTON, James E, MCCORMACK, Paul L, SIDDIQUI, M. Asif A, CVETKOVIC, Risto S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Auckland Adis International 01-01-2005; Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc
• Subjects: Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Protease Inhibitors - adverse effects; HIV Protease Inhibitors - chemistry; HIV Protease Inhibitors - pharmacokinetics; HIV Protease Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Molecular Structure; Nelfinavir - adverse effects; Nelfinavir - chemistry; Nelfinavir - pharmacokinetics; Nelfinavir - therapeutic use; Pregnancy; Salvage Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Human; Immunopathology; Antiretroviral agent; Monograph; Enzyme; Toxicity; Enzyme inhibitor; AIDS; Review; Immune deficiency; Infection; Peptidases; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Viral disease; Nelfinavir; Hydrolases; Antiviral; Pharmacokinetics; Protease inhibitor; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0012-6667; 1179-1950
• DOI: 10.2165/00003495-200565150-00015

Nelfinavir (Viracept) is an orally administered protease inhibitor. In combination with other antiretroviral drugs (usually nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs]), nelfinavir produces substantial and sustained reductions in viral load in patients with HIV infection. Nelfinavir may be used in the treatment of adults, adolescents and children aged >or=2 years with HIV infection. It can also be used in pregnancy. Resistance to nelfinavir may develop, but the most common mutation (D30N, appearing mainly in HIV-1 subtype B) does not confer resistance to other protease inhibitors, thereby conserving these agents for later use. Although less effective than lopinavir/ritonavir, the preferred first-line treatment in US guidelines, nelfinavir is positioned as an alternative agent for the treatment of adults and adolescents with HIV infection and is an option for those unable to tolerate other protease inhibitors. Nelfinavir also has a role in the management of pregnant patients as well as paediatric patients with HIV infection.