INVIRASE: profile and news

Roche to Focus Resources on Availability of Invirase, Now ... Feb 6, 2006
...and distribution of Fortovase®, the soft-gel formulation of the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir, due to the continued availability of the Invirase® 500 mg ... - DG News

Roche to Focus Resources on Availability of INVIRASE(R), Now ... Feb 6, 2006
...and distribution of Fortovase(R), the soft-gel formulation of the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir, due to the continued availability of the INVIRASE(R) 500 ... - International News Service,

CROI: Saquinavir-based combination prevents mother-to-child HIV ... Feb 22, 2006
Short-term anti-HIV drug combinations including ritonavir (Norvir)-boosted saquinavir (Invirase) are more effective at reducing viral loads in the third ... - Aidsmap,

Roche To Stop Selling Protease Inhibitor Fortovase Because of ... Feb 8, 2006
...as saquinavir -- in the US because of decreased demand for the drug and increased demand for a newer formulation of saquinavir, called Invirase, Reuters reports ... - Kaiser network.org,

Roche to discontinue HIV treatment Feb 8, 2006
The company will instead focus its resources on Invirase, a tablet formulation of the drug that offers a more convenient and tolerable treatment regimen for ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Roche discontinues marketing of anti-HIV drug Fortovase Feb 8, 2006
The company also says a newer formulation of the active ingredient in the medication, sold as Invirase, has fewer side effects and a lower pill burden than ... - The Advocate,

UPDATE 1-Roche to discontinue US sales of AIDS drug Feb 6, 2006
Roche said its Invirase (saquinavir mesylate) HIV drug in 500 milligram tablet form is the preferred medicine as part of a combination treatment to prevent ... - Reuters

CROI: Low rates of resistance seen in Staccato trial of CD4-guided ... Feb 26, 2006
Overall, 80% of the patients in Staccato took ritonavir (Norvir)-boosted saquinavir (Invirase) along with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs ... - Aidsmap,

Consiga la Gold Card American Express ahora Feb 6, 2006
...[+]. (PRN) - Roche to Focus Resources on Availability of INVIRASE(R), Now Preferred Formulation of Saquinavir ... [+. PRN) - Tiny Pictures, Inc. ... - Bolsamania.com,

CROI: etravirine (TMC125) and darunavir (TMC114) in treatment ... Feb 13, 2006
In the control arm, the most commonly used comparator PIs were lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), amprenavir (Agenerase) and atazanavir ... - Aidsmap,

Multi-component drug delivery system: An emerging trend Feb 8, 2006
...include amprenavir (Agenerase), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Fortavase), indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), and lopinavir ... - Express Pharma Pulse,

Roche to discontinue HIV treatment 09 Feb 2006
The company will instead focus its resources on Invirase, a tablet formulation of the drug that offers a more convenient and tolerable treatment regimen for ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Roche discontinues marketing of anti-HIV drug Fortovase 09 Feb 2006
The company also says a newer formulation of the active ingredient in the medication, sold as Invirase, has fewer side effects and a lower pill burden than ... - The Advocate,

Roche HIV drug move greeted with scepticism Jan 12, 2006
...the HIV virus, which can lead to Aids. It is sold under the Invirase brand name. Campaigners have been calling on drug companies ... - Swissinfo,

Roche offers help to local manufacturers to produce HIV medicine ... Jan 12, 2006
Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors Invirase and Viracept available at no profit prices for direct supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa ... - SocialFunds.com

Roche offers HIV drug expertise to poor nations Jan 12, 2006
Roche said it would make its HIV protease inhibitors Invirase and Viracept available at no-profit prices for direct supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and sub ... - MedIndia,

New European HIV Treatment Guidelines Recommend Boosted Invirase(R ... Nov 18, 2005
New European Guidelines for the Clinical Management and Treatment of HIV Infected Adults published today recommend boosted Invirase(R) (saquinavir mesylate) as ... - Biotech Intelligence (press release),

APTIVUS(R) Sustains Convincing Anti-HIV Nov 21, 2005
...of ritonavir-boosted comparator protease inhibitors (PIs) that included lopinavir/r (Kaletra(R)), amprenavir/r (Agenerase(R)), saquinavir/r (Invirase(R)) and ... - APA OTS (Pressemitteilung),

Tipranavir continues to show benefit in treatment-experienced ... Nov 30, 2005
...best option, based on resistance testing, from a choice of ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (Kaletra), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase / Fortovase) or ... - Aidsmap,

Food, clothing and education for AIDS orphans in Malawi European ... Dec 1, 2005
Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors Invirase and Viracept available at no profit prices for direct supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

Bristol-Myers drug said cuts HIV rebound Nov 18, 2005
PLC's Agenerase and Lexiva, Boehringer Ingelheim's Aptivus, Merck & Co.'s Crixivan, Roche's Holding Ltd.'s Fortovase and Invirase, Abbott Laboratories' Kaletra ... - BusinessWeek

(PRN) - Ann Taylor Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2005 Earnings .. ... Nov 18, 2005
...[+]. (PRN) - New European HIV Treatment Guidelines Recommend Boosted Invirase(R) as a First Choice Treatment for Patients Starting Therapy ... [+. ... - Bolsamania.com,

Aptivus Sustains Convincing Anti-HIV Effect Through 48 Weeks Nov 21, 2005
...boosted comparator protease inhibitors (PIs) that included lopinavir/r (Kaletra®), amprenavir/r (Agenerase®), saquinavir/r (Invirase®) and indinavir/r ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

Pharmasset Appoints Lynn B. Hill as Vice President, Alliance & ... Sep 27, 2005
...in the strategic development of Pegasys(r) for the treatment of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, and she contributed to the regulatory efforts for Invirase(r) and ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

America’s Pharmaceutical Companies Continue Relief Efforts; More ... Sep 14, 2005
ROCHE · Providing HIV products, such as Fuzeon and Invirase, to state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) that are assisting displaced patients from the ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

Many meds don't mix with the sun Sep 21, 2005
Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), oxytetracycline (Terra-mycin), pyrazinamide, ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), sulfamethoxazole/tri-methoprim ... - Pioneer Press,

Timeline: AIDS in America Aug 13, 2005
Michael Glaser, die. * FDA approves saquinavir (Invirase, by Roche), the first anti-HIV drug in the protease-inhibitor class. A new ... - Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription),

Patients treated with boosted Invirase, a potent anti-HIV ... Jul 27, 2005
Starting treatment of HIV infection with Roche's protease inhibitor Invirase® (saquinavir mesylate) boosted with a small dose of ritonavir is not associated ... - Medical News Today (press release)

New Study Results Find That Patients Treated With Boosted INVIRASE ... Jul 25, 2005
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, July 25, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients starting HIV treatment with Roche's protease inhibitor INVIRASE(R) (saquinavir mesylate) boosted ... - PharmaLive.com (press release)

Roche to Pull HIV/AIDS Drug Due to Dwindling Demand Aug 4, 2005
A new formulation of Invirase (saquinavir mesylate) has become the preferred formulation of saquinavir, Roche said. Invirase will ... - Daily News Central

Roche reinforces its HIV portfolio Aug 2, 2005
Although Roche currently has five marketed HIV drugs - Fuzeon, Hivid, Invirase, Fortovase and Viracept (EU only) - Hivid and Fortovase are to be withdrawn from ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Newest HIV drugs should be used with FUZEON(R Jul 27, 2005
Invirase® ( saquinavir ) was the first protease inhibitor ( PI ) and was introduced by Roche in 1995. Invirase® 500, the new 500mg ... - I-Newswire.com (press release)

Positive Opinion in Europe for Tipranavir Jul 28, 2005
...with a genotypically optimized comparator regimen including lopinavir/r (Kaletra(R)), ritonavir-boosted amprenavir (Agenerase(R)) or saquinavir (Invirase(R)) (1 ... - Presseportal (Pressemitteilung)

Tipranavir, a powerful treatment option for HIV-positive treatment ... Jul 31, 2005
...with a genotypically optimized comparator regimen including lopinavir/r (Kaletra®), ritonavir-boosted amprenavir (Agenerase®) or saquinavir (Invirase®).1. ... - RxPG NEWS

Europe up, Vodafone in focus Jul 25, 2005
...news, chart, profile) edged 0.7% higher after it said a new study showed starting treatment of HIV infection with its protease inhibitor Invirase, boosted with ... - MarketWatch

Europe higher, Vodafone in focus Jul 25, 2005
001203204001203204) edged 0.7% higher after it said a new study showed starting treatment of HIV infection with its protease inhibitor Invirase, boosted with a ... - Investor's Business Daily (subscription)

Europe shares mixed; Danone declines Jul 25, 2005
The company said a new study showed starting treatment of HIV infection with its protease inhibitor Invirase, boosted with a small dose of ritonavir, is not ... - Investor's Business Daily (subscription)

CEO: Innovation key to success Jul 22, 2005
Along with Fuzeon, the 370-employee Roche Colorado produces Valcyte, an antiviral agent; Invirase, a protease inhibitor to fight the onset of AIDS in HIV ... - Boulder Daily Camera (subscription)

IAS: Virological failure rare in patients taking saquinavir ... Jul 29, 2005
HIV-positive patients taking ritonavir (Norvir)-boosted saquinavir (Invirase) as part of their first antiretroviral regimen develop protease inhibitor ... - Aidsmap

Other information

Indication
HIV-1 with advanced immunodeficiency together with antiretroviral nucleoside analogues

Pharmacology
Saquinavir is a protease inhibitor with activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). Protease inhibitors block the part of HIV called protease. HIV-1 protease is an enzyme required for the proteolytic cleavage of the viral polyprotein precursors into the individual functional proteins found in infectious HIV-1. Saquinavir binds to the protease active site and inhibits the activity of the enzyme. This inhibition prevents cleavage of the viral polyproteins resulting in the formation of immature non-infectious viral particles. Protease inhibitors are almost always used in combination with at least two other anti-HIV drugs.

Mechanism Of Action
Saquinavir inhibits the HIV viral proteinase enzyme which prevents cleavage of the gag-pol polyprotein, resulting in noninfectious, immature viral particles.

Drug Category
Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-HIV Agents; ATC:J05AE01

Brand Names/Synonyms
Fortovase; Invirase; ROC; SAQUINAVIR; SQV; Saquinavir; Saquinavir Mesylate; Saquinavir [Usan]

Dosage Forms
INVIRASE (saquinavir mesylate) capsules and FORTOVASE (saquinavir) soft gelatin capsules

Absorption
Absolute bioavailability of saquinavir administered as INVIRASE averaged 4%

Interactions