expanded access programme (EAP) – a scheme that allows people to access a drug before it has been approved (but when approval is expected).
EAPs are for people urgently need treatment as a life-saving option and who do o have the time to wait for the six months that it takes for approval to be finalised. EAPs are usually available for most HIV drugs after the main studies (phase 3) have been completed.
They were an important early result of community activism. They are also called ‘early access’ or ‘named-patient’ programmes.
DAA (direct acting antiviral) – new hepatitis C drugs that work directly against the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The following links are to UK prescribing information for DAA combinations plus ribavirin.
Elbasvir/grazoprevir
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/elbasvir-with-grazoprevir/
Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/ledipasvir-with-sofosbuvir/
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/glecaprevir-with-pibrentasvir/
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/sofosbuvir-with-velpatasvir/
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/sofosbuvir-with-velpatasvir-and-voxilaprevir/
Ribavirin (RBV)
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/ribavirin/
Additional information is available from the MHRA website.
https://products.mhra.gov.uk/
pharmacist – a medical professional who specialises in sourcing and dispensing drugs. A pharmacist should be an expert in drug interactions, and on exactly how drugs should be taken.
reverse transcriptase – an enzyme unique to HIV. It is used to convert single-strand RNA into double-strand DNA. This is needed before HIV’s genetic material can be integrated in the human DNA. HIV drugs that stop this process are called reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs).
treatment-experienced – someone who has previously used anti-HIV treatments.
