Basseterre, St. Kitts (June 15, 2007): Residents of St. Kitts and Nevis are advised that there has been a global recall of the antiretroviral drug trademarked Viracept®.

According to a statement released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Roche (a drug manufacturer) informed the organization of the recall of Viracept® of its nelfinavir products.  This was done in accordance with European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and Swissmedic requirements.

Local HIV Clinical Care Coordinator Dr. Kathleen Allen Ferdinand assured that Viracept® is not one of the drugs presently dispensed to HIV/AIDS patients in the Federation.  She said that Viracept is what is referred to as a protease inhibitor and presently the Federation makes use of only one of this class of drug.  She added that the drug presently in use is only necessary when an HIV/AIDS patient no longer reacts to or has failed in the first-line antiretrovirals.

Dr. Ferdinand noted that the Roche recall is an excellent example of pharmaceutical and drug manufacturing vigilance.

WHO informed that the reason for the recall was Roche’s identification of a known genotoxic contaminant in some batches of Viracept®. 

Adults and children currently taking Viracept® were advised not to interrupt their current medicinal therapy but should see their antiretroviral therapy provider as soon as possible for substitutes.

WHO substitutes include a boosted protease inhibitor, nevirpine, efavirenz (unless in the first trimester of pregnancy) and triple nucleoside therapy.

Additional information can be obtained at http://www.who.int/entity/hiv/pub/guidelines/en .