Pharmacotherapy update: treatment of HIV-infection with Darunavir

Darunavir is an oral peptidomimetic HIV-1 protease inhibitor with antiretroviral activity against wild type HIV strains and HIV strains with protease inhibitor mutations. Ritonavir-boosted darunavir is rapidly absorbed and it has a higher bioavailability than unboosted darunavir. In HIV infected adults, the pharmacokinetic profile of darunavir showed that the drug concentrations are similar in the age range between 18 to 65 years and unaffected by the presence of moderate renal or hepatic function impairment. Darunavir chemical structure provides a strong interaction between the drug and HIV-1 protease and accounts for its potent antiretroviral activity and high genetic barrier to the development of resistance. The efficacy, safety and tolerability of darunavir have been widely dem- onstrated in HIV-infected treatment-experienced and naïve adult patients and it’s use has been labelled in this population. Recently, upon the approval of the Food and Drug Administration, a 75 mg darunavir’s tablet formulation has been licensed for the treatment of HIV-infected children and adolescents in the age range between 6 to 17 years.