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Cobicistat
Pronunciation(s):
What is cobicistat?
- Cobicistat, formerly known as GS-9350, is an experimental pharmacokinetic enhancer (a drug used to boost other medications in the blood to make them more effective) being developed by Gilead Sciences.
- The exact mechanism by which cobicistat boosts the blood levels of other drugs has not yet been revealed, though it is likely that the drug inhibits a liver enzyme called CYP3A4.
- cobicistat will need to be used in combination with other drugs. Clinical trials will evaluate its effect in combination with other drugs, including those currently approved for the treatment of HIV.
What is already known about cobicistat?
- The dose of cobicistat has not yet been determined.
 It is likely that cobicistat will interact with other medications, including those used to treat HIV. It is important that your personal physician and/or the research nurse or study investigator be aware of all drugs you are taking, including those you buy without a prescription.
- Cobicistat is currently being studied in combination with Gilead's integrase inhibitor elvitegravir. The company has announced that it hopes to develop a four-in-one pill containing those two drugs plus tenofovir (found in Viread, Truvada and Atripla) and emtricitabine (found in Emtriva, Truvada and Atripla). Cobicistat is also being studied as a stand-alone drug in combination with non-Gilead antiretrovirals, such as the protease inhibitor Reyataz (atazanavir).
What about drug interactions?
- Studies on potential interactions between cobicistat and other drugs have not yet been reported, but are planned and ongoing.
What is known about side effects?
- Studies evaluating the short- and long-term safety of cobicistat are planned and ongoing
- According to clinical trials completed thus far, cobicistat may cause gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The drug may also cause kidney impairment in some people; additional studies are needed to evaluate this possibility more closely.
Who should not take cobicistat?
 It is not known whether cobicistat will harm an unborn baby. It is very important to treat HIV/AIDS during pregnancy to reduce the risk of infecting your baby. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
 It is not known whether cobicistat passes into breast milk and what effect it may have on a nursing baby. To prevent transmission of the virus to uninfected babies, it is recommended that HIV-positive mothers not breast-feed.
Where can I learn more about clinical trials of cobicistat?
- If you would like to find out if you are eligible for any clinical trials that include cobicistat, there is an interactive web site run by ACRIA, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America.
- Another useful service for finding clinical trials is AIDSinfo.nih.gov, a site run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. They have "health information specialists" you can talk to at their toll-free number at 1-800-HIV-0440 (1-800-448-0440).
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GS-9350
belongs to a class of anti-HIV drugs called 
Check My Meds
