http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-17-2007/0004590506&EDATE=

http://www.Resist-HIV.info offers healthcare providers timely, accurate and relevant HIV resistance information

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the need to
make timely evaluations and decisions when treating persons with HIV/AIDS,
Virco Lab, Inc., a leader in HIV drug resistance testing, recently launched
http://www.resist-hiv.info, a single source for comprehensive HIV
resistance information. Responses and recommendations from US-based
HIV/AIDS treating physicians were an integral part of the site's
development.
The introduction of powerful medicines for antiretroviral therapy has
enabled people with HIV/AIDS to live longer lives. However, a major problem in the treatment of HIV is the virus's ability to rapidly mutate, causing drug resistance. A 2004 publication in the journal AIDS reported that up to 76% of HIV-infected individuals failing treatment in the United States has a virus resistant to at least one anti-HIV medication(1). To further complicate treatment decisions, the issue of transmitted drug resistance -when the virus of a newly infected patient demonstrates resistance to therapies before initiating treatment - is also a major treatment concern for the HIV/AIDS healthcare provider.
"The ability to keep up to date with complex clinical and scientific
information related to the development of rapid drug resistance is an
enormous challenge to the HIV clinician," said Scott Rairigh, Vice
President, US Business, Virco Lab, Inc. "It is specifically this challenge
that
http://www.resist-hiv.info?utm_source=PressRelease&utm_medium=PressRelease
is poised to address."
This new source for resistance information includes educational modules
for the HIV/AIDS healthcare provider covering the science behind resistance
testing (RT) and the practical use of RT to guide the selection of
antiretroviral therapy in patients with drug resistance. Resistance
Reporter, an independent on-line newsletter that is delivered exclusively
through the site, includes summaries of timely and relevant information
about the field of HIV drug resistance, as reported by experts in the
field.
Users of the site may register to receive information directly from
Resist-HIV.info via email or through mobile text messaging; information is
also available directly on the site. Polling features will allow Virco to
survey users about current treatment practices and subscriber information
needs.
"The results of a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of
HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) clearly support the need for accurate and timely drug
resistance information," said Rairigh. That survey found that 91% of 385
surveyed physicians were "extremely" or "very" concerned about drug
resistance(2).
About Virco
Virco BVBA is a world leader in the field of HIV resistance testing
services for clinical practice and clinical studies, advancing research
that correlates laboratory testing with clinical management, while offering
a wide range of HIV resistance diagnostics. (Virco Lab, Inc. is the US
operating division of Virco.) The company applies the latest technologies
in molecular biology, medical virology, and bioinformatics to develop
advanced diagnostic tools that are based on pharmacogenomic principles of
individualized patient care. A pioneer in HIV resistance testing, Virco has
one of the world's largest repositories of HIV clinical isolates, a
clinical response database with records of more than 19,000 patients, a
database of more than 84,000 phenotypes and 300,000 genotypes, and
cutting-edge bioinformatics capabilities.
(1) Richman, Douglas D. 2004. The prevalence of antiretroviral drug
resistance in the United States. AIDS 18:1393-1401.
(2) The American Academy of HIV Medicine Resistance Survey: Conducted
online by Harris Interactive of behalf of the American Academy of HIV
Medicine. April 10-April 20, 2006.
Contact:
Amy Maggio
ANM Healthcare Solutions
312-617-6248
Amy.maggio@anmhealthcare.com

David Rebey
Virco Lab, Inc.
262-697-6346
Drebey@vrcus.jnj.com
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.ereleases.com.


SOURCE Virco Lab, Inc.