IAS 2015Bristol-Myers Squibb’s investigational next-generation maturation inhibitor BMS-955176 demonstrated good activity against HIV when paired with Reyataz (atazanavir) in a recent small study, aidsmap reports. Results from a Phase IIa trial of 28 adults with HIV subtype B were presented at the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 28 participants were either treatment-naive or had previously been treated with antiretrovirals in classes other than protease inhibitors or maturation inhibitors. They began the study with a median of about 500 CD4s and a median viral load of about 15,850.

Researchers randomly assigned the participants to receive once-daily BMS-955176 (at 40 milligrams or 80 mg) plus either Norvir (ritonavir)–boosted Reyataz (300 mg) or just Reyataz (400 mg). A group serving as a control took Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) and Reyataz. Everyone was treated for 28 days and followed for a total of 42 days.

All the arms of the study saw a rapid drop in viral load. On day 29, those who took BMS-955176 had experienced median viral load decline ranging between 97.81 percent and 99.34 percent, depending on the dose, which was comparable to the 99.4 decline in the control group.

The BMS-955176 treatment was generally safe and well-tolerated. There were no serious side effects and no one discontinued treatment because of side effects.

BMS recently started two Phase IIb studies of the maturation inhibitor.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.

To read a press release about the study, click here.