4th International Workshop on HIV Drug Resistance and Treatment Strategies, 12-16 June 2000, Sitges, Spain

16 July 2000. Related: Conference reports, Conference index, Intl Drug Resistance Workshop 4 Sitges 2000.

Reports by Paul Blanchard, Simon Collins and Polly Clayden, HIV i-Base.

The 4th International Workshop on HIV Drug Resistance & Treatment Strategies took place in Sitges, Spain, a resort town in Catalonia. This annual meeting has developed into one of the most important of the year for the presentation of developments in the field of drug resistance and treatment strategies.

Although many studies are small and findings preliminary they often form the basis of larger confirmatory trials. Innovative work from previous years has now become part of national and international treatment guidelines.

Reports from the workshop.

• Tenofovir (PMPA), defining cross-resistance profiles

• DAPD shows activity in vitro against multidrug-resistant HIV but initial results from monotherapy in treatment experienced subjects are disappointing

• Mycophenalate mofetil in patients with advanced disease and multidrug resistant HIV

• Hydroxyurea is active in vitro against multidrug-resistant HIV

• ABT-378/r (Lopinavir): defining a resistance profile and the effects of resistance on virological response in experienced patients

• Indinavir/ritonavir at 400/400 mg or 800/100 mg as intensification

• Ritonavir/saquinavir combination: effect of ritonavir dosage

• What is the significance of blips in viral load?

• Phenotypic resistance testing improves response to therapy: final analysis of VIRA3001

• A prospective study of strategic treatment interruptions in patients with chronic HIV-infection

• Added value of hydroxyurea or IL-2 to STIs remains uncertain

• Continued benefits from protease inhibitor based therapy despite virological failure

• Do resistance mutations disappear off therapy?

• Selection of PI mutations during slow decay of VL and resistance after PI failure

• Thymidine analogues mutations (TAMS) and other NA-related resistance mutations

• Nevirapine vs efavirenz: the SENC trial

• A warning on simplification strategies: not suitable for all