«PSK Pharma» has received a registration certificate for new dosages of the antiviral drug «Etravirine PSK», indicated for HIV therapy in adults and children from the age of two. Dosages with a lower content of the active substance will allow it to be used for more flexible treatment of children from an early age.
Russia has achieved positive results in the fight against HIV among children and adolescents – since 2017, more than 98% of children born to women with HIV do not have this disease[1]. This is a significant achievement of the Russian healthcare system, because perinatal infection is the main way for children to acquire HIV. However, today there are more than 10,000 minors with this disease living in the country[2] who need therapy using the principles of modern evidence-based medicine and an integrated approach.
Currently, the main method of treating adults and children with HIV is antiretroviral therapy (ART). In 2022, «PSK Pharma» registered an antiretroviral drug with the active ingredient etravirine. It blocks transcriptase– an enzyme that ensures the viability of retroviruses, including HIV, preventing it from synthesizing viral RNA and DNA. To achieve maximum therapeutic effect, etravirine is used in the complex treatment of HIV with other drugs.
Previously, «Etravirine PSK» had a dosage of 200 mg and could be used by adults and children from two years old weighing more than 30 kilograms. New dosages with a lower concentration of the active substance (100 mg and 25 mg) open up the possibility of treating children weighing from 10 kilograms. This makes it possible to ensure the availability of the drug for underage patients.