VERXVE study to test once-daily Viramune

German drug major Boehringer Ingelheim has initiated and begun enrollment of patients in the VERXVE trial, which will compare the efficacy and safety of a new extended-release formulation of Viramune (nevirapine), its non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, dosed once daily with the currently-approved Viramune given twice daily.

The agent will be combined with a background regimen consisting of tenofovir and emtricitabine (Truvada). Recruitment is planned throughout 2008 and results will be available in 2010. The primary endpoint of the trial will be virologic response, defined as suppression of viral load to under 50 copies/mL, after 48 weeks.