HBY-097 (HBY), an investigational nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), and indinavir (IDV) share a common metabolic pathway, cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4), and may clinically be used together as well as with zidovudine (ZDV). Thus, the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction between these drugs was evaluated. HBY (500 mg Q8H), IDV (800 mg Q8H), and ZDV (200 mg Q8H) were given to 8 HIV-infected subjects. Serial plasma samples were collected at baseline (ZDV and IDV alone) and day 11 (all 3 drugs) to determine PK parameters using noncompartmental analysis. PK parameters for ZDV in the presence and absence of HBY were not appreciably different. However, both the maximum (Cmax) and minimum (Cmin) concentrations of IDV were significantly reduced, from a mean of 7514 +/- 1636 and 146 +/- 81 mcg/L to 4725 +/- 2494 mcg/L and 54 +/- 24 mcg/L (p < .05) after addition of HBY. Furthermore, apparent clearance (CL/F) of IDV before and after 11 days of concomitant HBY administration was significantly higher, from 0.69 +/- 0.14 to 1.94 +/- 0.63 L/h/kg (p < .05) with an associated reduction in area under the curve (AUC0-8) from 16,034 +/- 4903 to 6134 +/- 2701 mg/L/h (p < .05). The increase in IDV CL/F is consistent with the observed metabolic induction effects of other NNRTIs. The results of this trial showed that HBY significantly alters the pharmacokinetic parameters of IDV at the dose studied.