HIV Fusion and Cell Entry

insulin and still lead very active lifestyles. These results confirm that once people get
used to giving themselves injections, it becomes part of their daily routine."
While almost all (98%) patients on the T-20 arms of both TORO 1 and TORO 2 phase
Ill studies experienced injection site reactions at 24 weeks, no more than 3.3% of
patients in either study discontinued the treatment due to these reactions.
Injection site rotation
A second study presented today by American researchers confirmed the levels of T20 in the blood remained in the same range when HIV patients self-injected
themselves in the stomach, thigh or arm. Daily injections of any drug in the same part
of the body can sometimes cause build-up of scar tissue and fatty deposits. So, as
with insulin injections, patients who may eventually take T-20 should try to change or
rotate daily injection sites to help minimise discomfort.
Dr Calvin Cohen - a leading investigator in the US T-20 phase Ill trial reports, "As T20 cannot be taken orally as it would be destroyed by digestive enzymes in the gut, it
is essential that patients are able to adhere to the daily injection routine. As with any
injection we always encourage patients to rotate the site to avoid overuse of any one
area. Consequently, reports from patients are very positive with more than 90%
saying it is something they can do, something they can live with, so it's great news all
round that a similar amount of T-20 will reach the system from a variety of injection
sites."
Growing evidence
These findings build on earlier results released at the 1st International AIDS society
Conference in Buenos Aires last year where 98% of patients who completed one year
of T-20 therapy said that they would choose to continue on this drug. Phase III studies
have shown T-20 to have potent antiviral activity against viruses resistant to existing
classes of antiretrovirals and to be well tolerated.
Early Access to T-20
In November 2001, Roche and Trimeris announced the initiation of the T-20 openlabel safety study (T20-305) to provide T-20 to a further 450 adults and was recently
expanded to include 50 children and adolescents. The study is ongoing and is being

conducted in Australia, Brazil, Europe and North America. Roche and Trimeris
remain on track to commence T-20 Early Access Programmes in this second half of
2002 when increased drug supply is expected to become available and will announce

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