FDA approves liquid form of Merck HIV drug Isentress for infants, small children

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administraiton has approved a liquid formulation of an HIV drug made by Merck, the company said.

Merck announced the approval of Isentress (raltegravir) for oral suspension, aimed at small children with HIV. The drug may be used by patients as young as four weeks, and the full line of formulations of Isentress now includes the orlal suspension, as well as chewable tablets and film--coated tablets. The company plans to launch the oral suspension in the third quarter of this year.

"We are very pleased that Isentress can now be a part of a treatment regimen for HIV-1-infected infants and children as young as 4 weeks of age," Merck Research Labs executive director for clinical research Hedy Teppler said.