On Oct. 9, 1991, Bristol-Myers’ VIDEX (didanosine) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIV infection in the United States.

VIDEX® (didanosine) is a brand name for didanosine (ddI), a synthetic purine nucleoside analogue active against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). VIDEX Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets are available for oral administration in strengths of 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg of didanosine. Each tablet is buffered with calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. VIDEX tablets also contain aspartame, sorbitol, microcrystalline cellulose, polyplasdone, mandarin-orange flavor, and magnesium stearate.

The efficacy of VIDEX was demonstrated in two randomized, double-blind studies comparing VIDEX, given on a twice-daily schedule, to zidovudine, given three times daily, in 617 (ACTG 116A, conducted 1989-1992) and 913 (ACTG 116B/117, conducted 1989-1991) patients with symptomatic HIV infection or AIDS who were treated for more than one year. In treatment-naive patients (ACTG 116A), the rate of HIV disease progression or death was similar between the treatment groups; mortality rates were 26%
for patients receiving VIDEX and 21% for patients receiving zidovudine. Of the patients who had received previous zidovudine treatment (ACTG 116B/117), those treated with VIDEX had a lower rate of HIV disease progression or death (32%) compared to those treated with zidovudine (41%); however, survival rates were similar between the treatment groups.

Efficacy in pediatric patients was demonstrated in a randomized, double-blind, controlled study (ACTG 152, conducted 1991-1995) involving 831 patients 3 months to 18 years of age treated for more than 1.5 years with zidovudine (180 mg/m2 q6h), VIDEX (120 mg/m2 q12h), or zidovudine (120 mg/m2q6h) plus VIDEX (90 mg/m2 q12h). Patients treated with VIDEX or VIDEX plus zidovudine had lower rates of HIV disease progression or death compared with those treated with zidovudine alone.