Herbal Spotlight
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 entecavir |
| Baraclude |
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Pharmaceutical
company:
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
www.bms.com |
NEW WARNING
Bristol-Myers Squibb has issued a "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter regarding their antiviral drug entecavir (Baraclude), which is used to treat Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infections. Post marketing data has shown that entecavir shouldn't be used in patients with HIV/HBV co-infections who are not also receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) because of a high potential for the development of HIV resistance. The prescribing information now includes in the Black Box warnings, a warning about treating HIV patients with this drug and states that HIV testing should be offered to all patients before using entecavir. Patients with HIV who are receiving HAART and who have chronic hepatitis B infection would still be candidates for treatment with entecavir.
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