Antiviral Therapy 2011; 16: in press (doi: 10.3851/IMP1931).

Background: Alternatives to the available stavudine containing paediatric fixed-dose combination(FDC) tablets are repidly needed due to concerns regarding the cumulative toxicity of long-terms stavudine exposure. We report the bioavailability and short-term safety of a novel paediatric FDC tablet of zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC)/nevirapine(NVP;30/15/28 mg) in HIV-infected children.
Methods: In this Phase I/II open-label pharmacokinetic study, 42 children weighing 6-30 kg treated with NVP-based HAART for > 4 weeks were randomized to receive the FDC tablets(GPO-VIR Z30) or the liquid formulations. Dosing was weight-based. Intensive 12-h blood sampling was performed after 2 weeks; subjects then crossed-over to the alternate formulation at equal doses and sampling repeated 2 weeks later. Prarmacokinetic parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis. Buccal-sweb samples were collected for cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6 polymorphism analysis.
Results: With the FDC tablet, thegeometric mean (90% Cl) area under the curve (AUC) for ZDV, 3TC and NVP was 1.58(1.49-1.68), 7.78 (7.38-8.19) and 68.88 (62.13-76.36) µg.h/ml, respectively. Rules for NVP therapeutic inadequacy were defined a priori, and despite lower NVP exposure with the tablet(P<0.001), the levels remained therapeutically adequate. ZDV AUC was similar between formulations. 3TC exposure was significantly higher with the tablet but comparable to historical data in adults and children taking branded tablets. While receiving the tablet, NVP AUC in children with CYP2B 516 GG (45%), GT (45%) and TT (10%) genotypes were 67.0, 74.5 and 106.4 µg.h/ml, respectively (P=0.04).
Conclusions: Disparities in drug exposure between formulation were observed; however, the FCD tablet delivered therapeutically adequate exposures of each drug and could well play an important role in simplifying antiretroviral treatment for children.