Posts
Napo Pharmaceuticals has filed a
lawsuit against Salix Pharmaceuticals that has delayed availability of the drug
Fulyzaq, which the two firms partnered in 2008 to develop. The US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved Fulyzaq in 2012 for the prevention of “excessive”
diarrhea, a common side effect of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Salix announced in May that the
company was working with FDA to expedite Fulyzaq distribution, and stated in
June that the drug was available from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacies. However,
many doctors treating HIV-infected people reported that their patients were
unable to obtain Fulyzaq at Walgreens or any other pharmacy, according to
Napo’s legal representative.
Until the legal issues are settled,
patients with excessive gastrointestinal adverse reactions to ART will continue
to suffer. One such individual is a Washington, DC, resident who reported that
he has lived with HIV since the 1980s. He noted that ART successfully reduced
his viral load to virtually undetectable levels, but he still had “severe
intestinal and bowel issues” because of his drug regimen.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus.
To learn more about The Friends of
AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
