Abstract
Introduction: Raltegravir was the first available integrase inhibitor for treating HIV-positive patients. This review aims to provide an overview of its role in the management of HIV-1 infection, highlighting its key pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
Areas covered: This review covers material searched and obtained through Medline and PubMed up to April 2015.
Expert opinion: Raltegravir for its tolerability, efficacy, few drug-to-drug interactions and for the amount of available data in difficult subgroups of patients is a key drug in the antiretroviral armamentarium. For its weak genetic barrier to resistance and erratic pharmacokinetic profile, it should be administered twice daily and with fully active companion antiretrovirals.
Declaration of interest
A Calcagno has received travel grants or speaker’s honoraria from Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Janssen-Cilag. S Bonora has received grants, travel grants and consultancy fees from Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer and Janssen-Cilag. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.