FDA approves new HIV drug from Johnson & Johnson

The Food and Drug Administration says it approved a new HIV drug from Johnson & Johnson for patients who have not been treated with other medications for the virus.

The once-a-day pill Edurant works by blocking the virus from reproducing. It is designed to be used with other drugs that reduce levels of HIV in the blood.

Here’s a link to the release–in it the director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research says, “Patients may respond differently to various HIV drugs or experience varied side effects. FDA’s approval of Edurant provides an additional treatment option for patients who are starting HIV therapy.”

The FDA approved the drug based on a study showing it was as effective as Sustiva, an older HIV drug already on the market.