What Pharmacists Need to Know About Treating Patients With Trogarzo

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that weakens the immune system by destroying white blood cells. According to the CDC, an estimated 1.1 million adults and adolescents were living with HIV by the end of 2015; about 15% of that number had not yet received a diagnosis.¹Although the widespread availability of HIV medication has decreased the progression and complications of the disease, there are approximately 25,000 patients in the U.S. living with multidrug-resistant HIV.²

In March 2018, the FDA approved ibalizumab-uiyk (Trogarzo, Theratechnologies), an injectable CD4-directed post-attachment HIV-1 inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection failing their current antiretroviral regimen. With its approval, ibalizumab-uiyk became the first monoclonal antibody to treat HIV. It is also the first HIV therapy with a new mechanism of action to be approved in 10 years.

Here are several key therapeutic areas with ibalizumab-uiyk that every pharmacist should know.

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