December 11, 2012 Rilpivirine is a drug used as part of
antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is also called Edurant. It is
manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Rilpivirine is a non-
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (a "non-nuke" or
NNRTI). These drugs stop HIV from multiplying by preventing the
reverse transcriptase enzyme from working. This enzyme changes
HIV's genetic material (RNA) into the form of DNA. This step has
to occur before HIV's genetic code gets inserted into an
infected cell's genetic codes. Rilpivirine was approved in 2011
as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection.
Rilpivirine is approved for people who are taking their first
medications to fight HIV and whose viral load (see Fact Sheet
125) is below 100,000. It has not been studied in older adults.
It is not recommended for children and adolescents. There are no
absolute rules about when to start ART. You and your health care
provider should consider your CD4 cell count, your viral load,
any symptoms you are havin