Negative hedonic sensory qualities of HIV antiretroviral drugs often reduce patient adherence particularly in pediatric populations\nrequiring oral consumption. This study examines the palatability of an innovative delivery mechanism utilizing a freeze-dryingin-\nblister approach to create fast-dissolving tablets (FDTs) containing a fixed-dose combination of lopinavir and ritonavir (LPV/r).\nConsumption patterns of solutions during brief-access and long-term testing and baby foodstuff consumption were analyzed\nto evaluate the orosensory detection and avoidance of placebo FDTs containing no LPV/r (FDTâË?â??) and FDTs containing LPV/r\n(FDT+). Rats showed no change in consumption patterns for the placebo FDTâË?â?? compared with control solutions. Rats can detect\nbut do not avoid FDT+ at body-weight-adjusted dosages in both brief-access (30-s) and long-term (23 h) consumption tests. There\nis an aversive response to concentrated doses of FDT+ during brief-access tests that cannot be masked by 25%sucrose.However, the\nstrongest FDT+ concentration was not rejectedwhen mixed with 50 g of applesauce, banana sauce, or rice cereal baby foodstuffs.The\naverseness of the FDT+ was associated with the presence of LPV/r and not the FDTâË?â?? formulation itself.Thenovel FDT formulation\nappears to be a palatable delivery mechanism for oral antiretroviral pharmaceuticals especially when mixed with baby foodstuffs.
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