PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST HIV-1 INFECTION IN CHIMPANZEES BY NEVIRAPINE, A NONNUCLEOSIDE INHIBITOR OF REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTASE

Chimpanzees were challenged with HIV-1(IIB) while receiving a short re gimen of nevirapine (Viramune), a nonnucleoside inhibitor of HIV-1 rev erse transcriptase. The untreated, control chimpanzee developed an inf ection characterized by seroconversion, viremia in peripheral blood mo nonuclear cells (PBMCs), and plasma positive for viral RNA. In contras t, the three nevirapine-treated chimpanzees remained negative for all viral markers with the exception of nested polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) analysis of PBMCs for viral DNA. Although PBMCs from the three ne virapine-treated chimpanzees tested intermittently positive for viral DNA, this PCR signal disappeared and remained negative for the final f ive months of the study. These data indicate that orally administered nevirapine provided protection from HIV-1 infection in the chimpanzee model.