MERCK ANNOUNCES INTERIM RESULTS FROM STUDY OF MK-0518

Interim results from a dose-ranging Phase II trial of HIV therapy MK-0518 showed that the oral investigational medication at all three doses studied (200 mg, 400 mg, and 600 mg orally twice daily) in combination with optimized background therapy (OBT), had greater anti-retroviral activity than placebo with OBT.

MK-0518 is part of a new class of antiretroviral therapy called integrase inhibitors, which prevent the insertion of the HIV viral DNA into the human DNA genome. Inhibiting integrase from performing this essential function blocks the ability of the virus to replicate and infect new cells.