Fortovase (saquinavir soft gelatin capsules), Invirase (saquinavir mesylate capsules and tablets)

Audience: Infectious disease and other healthcare professionals

Roche and FDA notified healthcare professionals about an Important drug interaction warning. Drug-induced hepatitis with marked transaminase elevations has been observed in healthy volunteers receiving rifampin 600 mg once daily in combination with ritonavir 100 mg/saquinavir 1000 mg twice daily (ritonavir boosted saquinavir). Roche now advises prescribers that Rifampin should not be administered to patients also receiving saquinavir/ritonavir (ritonavir boosted saquinavir) as part of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection.

[February 2005 - Letter - Roche]