Prezista
Authorised
darunavir
Medicine
Human
Authorised
Prezista is used together with low-dose ritonavir and other HIV medicines to treat patients from 3 years of age (weighing at least 15 kg) who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), a virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
In adults and adolescents (12 years of age or more and weighing at least 40 kg), Prezista is also used with another medicine, cobicistat, in combination with other HIV medicines to treat HIV-1 infection.
Prezista contains the active substance darunavir.
Prezista can only be obtained with a prescription and treatment should be started by a healthcare professional who has experience in managing HIV infection.
Prezista is taken by mouth with or soon after a meal and it is available as tablets, or as a liquid (oral suspension) for patients unable to swallow tablets. The medicine is always taken with cobicistat (in adults or adolescents) or with low-dose ritonavir (in adults and children) plus other HIV medicines. If used with cobicistat the medicine is taken once daily; if used with ritonavir it is taken once or twice daily.
The dose of Prezista depends on previous HIV treatment, whether the virus has any resistance to the medicine, and the patient's age, weight and overall health. For more information about using Prezista, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.
The active substance in Prezista, darunavir, is a protease inhibitor. It blocks an enzyme called protease, which is involved in the reproduction of HIV. When the enzyme is blocked, the virus does not reproduce normally slowing down its multiplication in the body. Either ritonavir or cobicistat is used with Prezista as a ‘booster’. These booster medicines slow darunavir’s breakdown, increasing the levels of darunavir in the blood. This allows a lower dose of darunavir to be used for the same antiviral effect.
Prezista, taken in combination with other HIV medicines, reduces the amount of HIV-1 in the blood and keeps it at a low level. Prezista does not cure HIV-1 infection, but it holds off damage to the immune system and the development of infections and diseases associated with AIDS.
Six main studies in adults found that Prezista was effective at keeping HIV infection under control. In all of the studies, the patients also took other HIV medicines. The main measures of effectiveness were changes in the levels of HIV in the blood (viral load).
Ritonavir-boosted Prezista has also been studied in 101 previously treated children aged between 3 and 18 years and 12 previously untreated children aged between 12 to 18 years who weighed at least 40 kg.
Blood levels of cobicistat-boosted Prezista were found to be similar in adults and adolescents and its effectiveness is therefore expected to be similar. In an ongoing study involving previously treated children and adolescents, of 7 patients aged 12 to 16 years and weighing at least 40 kg who were given cobicistat and Prezista, 6 had viral loads below 50 copies/ml after 48 weeks of treatment.
In adults, the most common side effects with Prezista (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are diarrhoea, nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting, headache and rash. For the full list of all side effects reported with Prezista, see the package leaflet.
Prezista must not be taken by patients who have severely reduced liver function, or who are taking medicines which may decrease its effect, or cause serious side effects if given with Prezista combinations. For the full list of these medicines, see the package leaflet.
The European Medicines Agency decided that Prezista’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.
Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Prezista have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.
As for all medicines, data on the use of Prezista are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with Prezista are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.
Prezista received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 12 February 2007.
This medicine’s product information is available in all official EU languages.
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Product information documents contain:
PREZISTA, co administered with low dose ritonavir is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1) infection in adult and paediatric patients from the age of 3 years and at least 15 kg body weight.
PREZISTA, co administered with cobicistat is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1) infection in adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and older, weighing at least 40 kg).
In deciding to initiate treatment with PREZISTA co administered with cobicistat or low dose ritonavir, careful consideration should be given to the treatment history of the individual patient and the patterns of mutations associated with different agents. Genotypic or phenotypic testing (when available) and treatment history should guide the use of PREZISTA.
PREZISTA, co administered with low dose ritonavir is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1) infection.
PREZISTA 75 mg, 150 mg, and 600 mg tablets may be used to provide suitable dose regimens:
In deciding to initiate treatment with PREZISTA co administered with low dose ritonavir, careful consideration should be given to the treatment history of the individual patient and the patterns of mutations associated with different agents. Genotypic or phenotypic testing (when available) and treatment history should guide the use of PREZISTA.
PREZISTA, co administered with low dose ritonavir is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1) infection.
PREZISTA, co administered with cobicistat is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1) infection in adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and older, weighing at least 40 kg).
PREZISTA 400 mg and 800 mg tablets may be used to provide suitable dose regimens for the treatment of HIV 1 infection in adult and paediatric patients from the age of 3 years and at least 40 kg body weight who are: