Fact Sheet 449 Tipranavir is a drug used as part of
antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is also called Aptivus. It is
manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim. Tipranavir is a protease
inhibitor. These drugs prevent the protease enzyme from working.
HIV protease acts like a chemical scissors. It cuts the raw
material for HIV into specific pieces needed to build a new
virus. Protease inhibitors “gum up” these scissors. Tipranavir
was approved in 2005 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people
with HIV infection who have already used other ARVs. It has not
been studied in people just starting ART. Tipranavir boosted
with ritonavir should not be used as part of an initial ART
regimen. 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 having, and your
attitude about taking ART. Fact Sheet 404 has more information
about guidelines for the use of ART. If you take tipranavir with
other ARVs, you can reduce your v