Empetus

Empetus Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Empetus is an HIV protease inhibitor that interferes with the reproductive cycle of HIV. Although it was initially developed as an independent antiviral agent, it has been shown to possess advantageous properties in combination regimens with low-dose ritonavir and other protease inhibitors. It is now more commonly used as a booster of other protease inhibitors and is available in both liquid formulation and as capsules.

While ritonavir is not an active antiviral agent against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, it is added in combination therapies indicated for treatment of HCV infections as a booster. Empetus is a potent CYP3A inhibitor that increases peak and trough plasma drug concentrations of other protease inhibitors such as Paritaprevir and overall drug exposure. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines recommend ritonavir-boosted combination therapies as a first-line therapy for HCV Genotype 1a/b and 4 treatment-naïve patients with or without cirrhosis.

Empetus is found in a fixed-dose combination product with Ombitasvir, Dasabuvir, and Paritaprevir as the FDA-approved product Viekira Pak. First approved in December 2014, Viekira Pak is indicated for the treatment of HCV genotype 1b without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis, and when combined with Ribavirin for the treatment of HCV genotype 1a without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis.

Trade Name Empetus
Availability Prescription only
Generic Ritonavir
Ritonavir Other Names Ritonavir, Ritonavirum
Related Drugs Biktarvy, Truvada, tenofovir, abacavir, Complera, Atripla, Stribild
Weight 100mg,
Type Tablet
Formula C37H48N6O5S2
Weight Average: 720.944
Monoisotopic: 720.312760056
Protein binding

Ritonavir is highly protein-bound in plasma (~98-99%), primarily to albumin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein over the standard concentration range.

Groups Approved, Investigational
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Available Country India,
Last Updated: September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am
Empetus
Empetus

Uses

Empetus is an HIV protease inhibitor used in combination with other antivirals in the treatment of HIV infection.

Indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Empetus is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections

How Empetus works

Ritonavic inhibits the HIV viral proteinase enzyme that normally cleaves the structural and replicative proteins that arise from major HIV genes, such as gag and pol. Gag encodes proteins involved in the core and the nucleocapsid, while pol encodes the the HIV reverse transcriptase, ribonuclease H, integrase, and protease . The pol-encoded proteins are initially translated in the form of a larger precursoe polypeptide, gag-pol, and needs to be cleaved by HIV protease to form other complement proteins . Empetus prevents the cleavage of the gag-pol polyprotein, which results in noninfectious, immature viral particles. Empetus is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 isoenzyme present both in the intestinal tract and liver . It is a type II ligand that perfectly fits into the CYP3A4 active site cavity and irreversibly binds to the heme iron via the thiazole nitrogen, which decreases the redox potential of the protein and precludes its reduction with the redox partner, cytochrome P450 reductase . Empetus may also play a role in limiting cellular transport and efflux of other protease inhibitors via the P-glycoprotein and MRP efflux channels .

Toxicity

Human experience of acute overdose with ritonavir is limited. One patient in clinical trials took ritonavir 1500 mg/day for two days. The patient reported paresthesias which resolved after the dose was decreased. A post-marketing case of renal failure with eosinophilia has been reported with ritonavir overdose. The approximate lethal dose was found to be greater than 20 times the related human dose in rats and 10 times the related human dose in mice. Oral LD value in rats is >2500 mg/kg. Adverse effects of ritonavir may arise from drug-drug interactions. Other effects include hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, and allergic reactions/hypersensitivity.

Food Interaction

  • Avoid St. John's Wort. Co-administration may reduce serum concentrations of ritonavir and interfere with virologic efficacy.

[Moderate] ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with food may modestly affect the bioavailability of ritonavir from the various available formulations.

When the oral solution was given under nonfasting conditions, peak ritonavir concentrations decreased 23% and the extent of absorption decreased 7% relative to fasting conditions.

Dilution of the oral solution (within one hour of dosing) with 240 mL of chocolate milk or a nutritional supplement (Advera or Ensure) did not significantly affect the extent and rate of ritonavir absorption.

When a single 100 mg dose of the tablet was administered with a high-fat meal (907 kcal; 52% fat, 15% protein, 33% carbohydrates), approximately 20% decreases in mean peak concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) were observed relative to administration after fasting.

Similar decreases in Cmax and AUC were reported when the tablet was administered with a moderate-fat meal.

In contrast, the extent of absorption of ritonavir from the soft gelatin capsule formulation was 13% higher when administered with a meal (615 KCal; 14.5% fat, 9% protein, and 76% carbohydrate) relative to fasting.

MANAGEMENT: Empetus should be taken with meals to enhance gastrointestinal tolerability.

Empetus Cholesterol interaction

[Moderate] Hyperlipidemia has been observed in 10% of patients receiving ritonavir during clinical trials.

Increases of 30% to 40% from baseline have been reported for total cholesterol and 200% to 300% or more for triglycerides.

These effects have also been reported during postmarketing experience with other protease inhibitors (PIs) but may be the most dramatic with ritonavir.

The clinical significance of these elevations is unclear.

Severe hyperlipidemia is known to sometimes cause pancreatitis.

In addition, some patients have reportedly developed symptomatic atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease after initiating PI treatment.

Patients with preexisting hyperlipidemia may require closer monitoring during PI therapy, and adjustments made accordingly in their lipid-lowering regimen.

PI therapy should be administered cautiously in patients with coronary artery disease or a history of ischemic heart disease.

Volume of Distribution

The estimated volume of distribution of ritonavir is 0.41 ± 0.25 L/kg.

Elimination Route

The absolute bioavailability of ritonavir has not been determined. Following oral administration, peak concentrations are reached after approximately 2 hours and 4 hours (Tmax) after dosing under fasting and non-fasting conditions, respectively. It should be noted that ritonavir capsules and tablets are not considered bioequivalent.

Half Life

The approximate half-life of ritonavir is 3-5 hours.

Clearance

The apparent oral clearance at steady-state is 8.8 ± 3.2 L/h. Renal clearance is minimal and estimated to be 7

Elimination Route

Empetus is primarily eliminated in the feces. Following oral administration of a single 600mg dose of radiolabeled ritonavir, approximately 11.3 ± 2.8% of the dose was excreted into the urine, of which 3.5 ± 1.8% was unchanged parent drug. The same study found that 86.4 ± 2.9% of the dose was excreted in the feces, of which 33.8 ± 10.8% was unchanged parent drug.

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