Pharmacoprophylactic equivalence of rifapentine compared with isoniazid

Background Tuberculosis is an important infection and is still the most important problem worldwide. The prevention of infection is an important consideration. Focusing on the risk group, HIV-infected patient group is an important risk population for getting tuberculosis. The use of pharmacoprophylaxis has become a new concept in preventive medicine against tuberculosis for HIV-infected population. The classical regimen is the isoniazid regimen. However, the new introduction of combined rifapentine and isoniazid has become a new alterative preventive measure that can help prevent tuberculosis among HIV-infected cases. The alternative is reported for its efficacy and also mentioned for the shorter period of drug use. Materials and methods In the present report, the authors performed a clinical mathematical modeling study to determine the pharmacoprophylactic equivalence of rifapentine compared with isoniazid, with special referencing to the HIV-infected population. First, the comparison of required dosage, period of treatment, as well as prophylactic end point is primarily performed and then appraisal on pharmacoprophylactic equivalence of rifapentine compared with isoniazid is done based on mathematical adjustment for required dosage, period of treatment, and prophylaxis end point. Results Based on the appraisal, the final pharmacoprophylaxis equivalence is 1 rifapentine dosage is equal to 4.002748–8.005496 isoniazid dosage or 1 mg rifapentine is equal to 0.00143 week of drug use. Conclusion Based on the derived pharmacoprophylactic equivalence, rifapentine can help lower required isoniazid dosage and period of prophylactic drug use in prevention of tuberculosis for HIV-infected case.