Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 17, 1995 TAG: 9507170136
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
Merck & Co. said it would make the drug indinavir sulfate available free by lottery to about 1,400 people in the United States. Indinavir sulfate, also known by the brand name Crixivan, is one of a promising new class of drugs designed to attack the AIDS virus at a critical point in its life cycle.
Merck, of Whitehouse Station, N.J., becomes the second big drug company in recent weeks to announce an expanded access program for this group of drugs, known as the protease inhibitors. Hoffman-La Roche Inc. of Nutley, N.J., announced a similar program June 21 for its drug, known as saquinavir or Invirase.
Although the drugs are still experimental, demand outstrips supply.
The companies are awaiting the results of clinical trials and have not gone into full production. In the meantime, tens of thousands of sick people with few other options would like to take the drugs. For instance, Roche has only 2,280 slots available in its ``compassionate use'' program but has already received more than 10,000 calls. The company says that number could double before registration closes this week.
The companies say the drugs are exceedingly difficult to make, and they will not be able to meet the demand until they have built bigger factories.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.