Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) Versus Efavirenz/Emtricitabine/TDF in Treatment-naive Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection: Week 96 Results of the Randomized, Double-blind, Phase 3 DRIVE-AHEAD Noninferiority Trial.

BACKGROUND: Doravirine (DOR) is a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor. In the phase 3 DRIVE-AHEAD trial in treatment-naive adults with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, DOR demonstrated noninferior efficacy compared with efavirenz (EFV) and superior profiles for neuropsychiatric tolerability and lipids at 48 weeks. We present data through week 96. METHODS: DRIVE-AHEAD is a phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, noninferiority trial in antiretroviral treatment-naive adults with HIV-1 RNA ≥1000 copies/mL. Participants were randomized to a daily fixed-dose tablet of DOR (100 mg), lamivudine (3TC; 300 mg) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF; 300 mg) (DOR/3TC/TDF) or EFV (600 mg), emtricitabine (FTC; 200 mg) and TDF (300 mg) (EFV/FTC/TDF). The efficacy end point of interest at week 96 was the proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA levels <50 copies/mL (Food and Drug Administration Snapshot Approach) with a predefined noninferiority margin of 10% to support week 48 results. Safety end points of interest included prespecified neuropsychiatric adverse events and the mean change in fasting lipids at week 96. RESULTS: Of 734 participants randomized, 728 received study drugs and were included in analyses. At week 96, HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL was achieved by 77.5% of DOR/3TC/TDF vs 73.6% of EFV/FTC/TDF participants, with a treatment difference of 3.8% (95% confidence interval, -2.4% to 10%). Virologic failure rates were low and similar across treatment arms, with no additional resistance to DOR observed between weeks 48 and 96. Prespecified neuropsychiatric adverse events and rash were less frequent in DOR/3TC/TDF than in EFV/FTC/TDF participants through week 96. At week 96, fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased in the EFV/FTC/TDF group but not in the DOR/3TC/TDF group; the mean changes from baseline in total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio were similar. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02403674.

Once-daily Doravirine for Initial Treatment of Adults Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1: An Integrated Safety Analysis.

BACKGROUND: A prespecified integrated safety analysis was conducted for 3 doravirine (DOR) double-blind trials (Phase IIb: P007 [NCT01632345]; Phase III: DRIVE-FORWARD [NCT02275780] and DRIVE-AHEAD [NCT02403674]). METHODS: DOR (100 mg) arms from these trials were compared with darunavir plus ritonavir (DRV+r) in DRIVE-FORWARD and efavirenz (EFV) in P007 and DRIVE-AHEAD. Background therapies were emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) in P007; abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC) or FTC/TDF in DRIVE-FORWARD; and 3TC/TDF for DOR and FTC/TDF for EFV in DRIVE-AHEAD. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants discontinuing due to adverse events (AEs) through Week 48. RESULTS: Discontinuation rates due to AEs were similar for participants on DOR and DRV+r (2.5% vs 3.1%, respectively) and lower for those on DOR than for those on EFV (2.5% vs 6.6%, respectively). Rates of drug-related AEs for DOR, DRV+r, and EFV were 30.9%, 32.1%, and 61.4%, respectively. In an analysis of DOR versus EFV, the treatment difference for discontinuations due to AEs was -3.4%, favoring DOR (95% confidence interval -6.2 to -0.8; P = .012). Fewer participants experienced neuropsychiatric AEs on DOR than on EFV (25.0% vs 55.9%, respectively), and fewer experienced diarrhea on DOR than on DRV+r (12.4% vs 22.5%, respectively). Changes from baseline in most lipid parameters also favored DOR. CONCLUSIONS: At Week 48, DOR at 100 mg had a favorable safety profile compared with EFV or DRV+r and a favorable tolerability profile compared with EFV. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01632345; NCT02275780 and NCT02403674.

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and 48-week efficacy of oral raltegravir in HIV-1-infected children aged 2 through 18 years.

BACKGROUND: IMPAACT P1066 is a phase I/II open-label multicenter trial to evaluate pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and efficacy of multiple raltegravir formulations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected youth. METHODS: Dose selection for each cohort (I: 12 to <19 years; II: 6 to <12 years; and III: 2 to <6 years) was based on review of short-term safety (4 weeks) and intensive pharmacokinetic evaluation. Safety data through weeks 24 and 48, and grade ≥ 3 or serious adverse events (AEs) were assessed. The primary virologic endpoint was achieving HIV RNA <400 copies/mL or ≥ 1 log10 reduction between baseline and week 24. RESULTS: The targeted pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC0-12h and C12h) were achieved for each cohort, allowing dose selection for 2 formulations. Of 96 final dose subjects, there were 15 subjects with grade 3 or higher clinical AEs (1 subject with drug-related [DR] psychomotor hyperactivity and insomnia); 16 subjects with grade 3 or higher laboratory AEs (1 with DR transaminase elevation); 14 subjects with serious clinical AEs (1 with DR rash); and 1 subjects with serious laboratory AEs (1 with DR transaminase increased). There were no discontinuations due to AEs and no DR deaths. Favorable virologic responses at week 48 were observed in 79.1% of patients, with a mean CD4 increase of 156 cells/µL (4.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Raltegravir as a film-coated tablet 400 mg twice daily (6 to <19 years, and ≥ 25 kg) and chewable tablet 6 mg/kg (maximum dose 300 mg) twice daily (2 to <12 years) was well tolerated and showed favorable virologic and immunologic responses. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00485264.

Safety and efficacy of doravirine as first-line therapy in adults with HIV-1: week 192 results from the open-label extensions of the DRIVE-FORWARD and DRIVE-AHEAD phase 3 trials.

BACKGROUND: In two phase 3 trials for first-line therapy in adults with HIV-1, doravirine showed non-inferior efficacy, a favourable safety profile, and a superior lipid profile to darunavir and efavirenz through to 48 and 96 weeks. Here we report 192-week results from both studies. METHODS: DRIVE-FORWARD and DRIVE-AHEAD are multicentre, double-blind, randomised, active comparator-controlled, phase 3 trials of first-line antiretroviral treatment in adults with HIV-1. Eligible participants (aged ≥18 years) were naive to antiretroviral therapy, had plasma HIV-1 RNA 1000 copies per mL or more at screening, had no known resistance to any of the trial drugs, and had creatinine clearance 50 mL per min or more. DRIVE-FORWARD was conducted at 125 sites in 15 countries and compared doravirine (100 mg) with ritonavir-boosted darunavir (ritonavir [100 mg] and darunavir [800 mg]), each administered orally once daily with two nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [300 mg] and emtricitabine [200 mg] or abacavir sulfate [600 mg] and lamivudine [300 mg]). DRIVE-AHEAD was conducted at 126 sites in 23 countries and compared doravirine (100 mg), lamivudine (300 mg), and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (300 mg) with that of efavirenz (600 mg), emtricitabine (200 mg), and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (300 mg), all administered orally once daily. DRIVE-FORWARD enrolment was between Dec 1, 2014, and June 1, 2020, and DRIVE-AHEAD enrolment was between June 10, 2015, and Aug 10, 2020. After the 96-week double-blind phase, eligible participants could enter an open-label extension and either continue doravirine or switch from comparator to doravirine for an additional 96 weeks. Efficacy (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies per mL) and safety assessments (adverse events and changes in laboratory parameters) were pooled. The DRIVE-FORWARD and DRIVE-AHEAD trials were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02275780 and NCT02403674. FINDINGS: Of 1494 participants treated in the double-blind phase (1261 [84%] male and 233 [16%] female), 550 continued doravirine and 502 switched to doravirine in the extension. Using the FDA snapshot approach, HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL was maintained in 457 (83%) of 550 participants who continued doravirine and 404 (80%) of 502 participants who switched to doravirine. Protocol-defined virological failure and development of resistance were low, occurring mainly before week 96. Two (<1%) of 550 participants who continued doravirine reported serious drug-related adverse events, and three (1%) who continued doravirine and one (<1%) of 502 who switched to doravirine discontinued due to drug-related adverse events. Participants continuing or switching to doravirine showed generally favourable lipid profiles, little weight gain, and small decreases in estimated glomerular filtration rates, with no discontinuations due to increased creatinine or renal adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Favourable efficacy and safety profiles for doravirine at week 96 were maintained through to week 192 in participants who continued or switched to doravirine, supporting use of doravirine for long-term first-line HIV-1 treatment and for virologically suppressed adults switching therapy. FUNDING: Merck Sharp & Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA.

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Fixed-Dose Combination Tablets in Adolescents Living With HIV: Results Through Week 96 from IMPAACT 2014.

BACKGROUND: IMPAACT 2014 study is a phase I/II, multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized study of doravirine (DOR) co-formulated with lamivudine (3TC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) as fixed-dose combination (DOR FDC) in adolescents with HIV-1. We report the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of DOR FDC through 96 weeks. METHODS: Participants were adolescents aged 12 to <18 years who weighed at least 45 kg and who were either antiretroviral (ARV)-naïve or virologically suppressed without documented resistance mutations to DOR/3TC/TDF. The efficacy endpoint was the proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA <40 copies/mL assessed at weeks 48 and 96 using the observed failure approach. Safety and tolerability outcomes were incidence of adverse events (AEs) and treatment discontinuations. RESULTS: A total of 45 adolescents, median age 15 (range, 12-17) years, 58% females, were enrolled and 2 (4.4%) participants were ARV naïve. Of the 45 participants, 42 (93.3%) completed the study and 41 (91.1%) completed the study treatment. At week 48, 41/42 (97.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 87.4-99.9) and week 96, 37/40 (92.5%; 95% CI, 79.6-98.4) participants had achieved or maintained HIV-1 RNA <40 copies/mL. There were no treatment-related discontinuations due to AEs and no drug-related AEs ≥grade 3 or deaths. CONCLUSIONS: We found once-daily dosing of DOR FDC to be safe and well tolerated for maintaining viral suppression through 96 weeks in adolescents living with HIV-1.

Pharmacokinetics, Tolerability, and Safety of Doravirine and Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Fixed-Dose Combination Tablets in Adolescents Living With HIV: Week 24 Results From IMPAACT 2014.

BACKGROUND: We studied the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of 100-mg doravirine and doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate fixed-dose combination (100/300/300 mg DOR FDC) treatment in adolescents with HIV-1. METHODS: Adolescents ages 12 to younger than 18 years were enrolled in 2 sequential cohorts. Cohort 1 evaluated intensive PK and short-term safety of 100-mg single-dose doravirine in adolescents ≥35 kg. Cohort 2 participants either initiated treatment with DOR FDC (antiretroviral (ARV)-naïve) or switched to DOR FDC from a previous ARV regimen (virologically suppressed). The first 10 Cohort 2 participants had intensive PK evaluations, and safety, sparse PK, and HIV RNA were assessed through week 24. RESULTS: Fifty-five adolescents, median age 15.0 years and baseline weight 51.5 kg, were enrolled. Nine participants completed Cohort 1 PK assessments (8 of the 9 participants weighed ≥45 kg) and 45 initiated study drug in Cohort 2. The doravirine geometric mean (GM) AUC 0-∞ was 34.8 µM∙hour, and the GM C 24 was 514 nM after a single dose, with a predicted steady-state GM C 24,ss,pred of 690 nM. Cohort 2 enrolled adolescents weighing ≥45 kg. Plasma concentrations of doravirine, tenofovir, and lamivudine achieved by Cohort 2 participants were similar to those reported in adults. No drug-related serious or grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred. Forty-two of 45 participants (93.3%; 95% CI: [81.7, 98.6]) achieved or maintained HIV-1 RNA <40 copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Doravirine and DOR FDC achieved target PK in adolescents with HIV-1. DOR FDC was well-tolerated and maintained excellent virologic efficacy through 24 weeks, offering a favorable option for adolescents.

Efficacy of raltegravir versus efavirenz when combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine in treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected patients: week-192 overall and subgroup analyses from STARTMRK.

We compared 4 years of antiretroviral therapy with tenofovir/emtricitabine and either raltegravir or efavirenz from the ongoing STARTMRK study of treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients. Through 192 weeks, raltegravir produced durable and consistent viral suppression and immune restoration compared with efavirenz irrespective of baseline demographic and prognostic factors, including in patients with high viral loads.

A Health Literate Patient-focused Approach to the Redesign of the Raltegravir (ISENTRESS) Pediatric Kit and Instructions for Use.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist regarding how medications for pediatric use can be developed to minimize medication errors. The integrase inhibitor raltegravir was developed for use in neonates (≥2 kg). Anticipating that neonatal administration would be performed primarily by mothers with varying degrees of health literacy, a health literate, patient-focused, iterative process was conducted to update/redesign the raltegravir granules for oral suspension pediatric kit and instructions for use (IFU) for neonatal use to be ready for regulatory submission. METHODS: Prototypes of an updated/redesigned raltegravir IFU were systematically assessed through multi-stage, iterative testing and evaluation involving untrained lay individuals with varying levels of health literacy, healthcare professionals and health literacy experts. RESULTS: This iterative process resulted in numerous refinements to the IFU and kit, including wording, layout, presentation, colored syringes and additional instructional steps. The revised raltegravir pediatric kit and IFU (to include neonatal dosing) were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 and the European Union in 2018. No reported medication errors related to IFU utilization had been reported as of March 2021, reflecting >3 years of commercial use worldwide. CONCLUSIONS: This patient-focused process produced health literate instructions for preparing and administering an antiretroviral for neonatal use with complex dosing requirements. Testing demonstrated that lay users with a range of health literacy levels were able to accurately mix, measure and administer the product. This process demonstrates how a neonatal medication can be optimized for use through collaboration between the infectious disease expert community and a manufacturer.

Long-term treatment with raltegravir or efavirenz combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine for treatment-naive human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected patients: 156-week results from STARTMRK.

BACKGROUND: We compared 3 years of antiretroviral therapy with raltegravir or efavirenz as part of a combination regimen in the ongoing STARTMRK study of treatment-naive patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: Eligible patients with HIV-1 RNA (vRNA) levels >5000 copies/mL and without baseline resistance to efavirenz, tenofovir, or emtricitabine were randomized in a double-blind, noninferiority study to receive raltegravir or efavirenz, each combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine. Outcomes included viral suppression, adverse events, and changes from baseline metabolic parameters. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans were obtained on a convenience sample of patients at prespecified time points to assess changes in body fat composition. RESULTS: At week 156 counting noncompleters as failures, 212 (75.4%) of 281 versus 192 (68.1%) of 282 had vRNA levels <50 copies/mL in the raltegravir and efavirenz groups, respectively [Δ (95% CI) = 7.3% (-0.2, 14.7), noninferiority P < .001]. Mean changes from baseline CD4 count were 332 and 295 cells/mm³ in the raltegravir and efavirenz arms, respectively [Δ (95% CI) = 37 (4, 69)]. Consistent virologic and immunologic efficacy was maintained across prespecified demographic and baseline prognostic subgroups for both treatment groups. Fewer drug-related clinical adverse events (49% vs 80%; P < .001) occurred in raltegravir than efavirenz recipients, with discontinuations due to adverse events in 5% and 7%, respectively. Elevations in fasting lipid levels (including LDL- and HDL-cholesterol) were consistently lower in the raltegravir than efavirenz group (P < .005). Fat gain was 19% in 25 raltegravir recipients and 31% in 32 efavirenz recipients at week 156. CONCLUSIONS: When combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine in treatment-naive patients, raltegravir produced durable viral suppression and immune restoration that was at least equivalent to efavirenz through 156 weeks of therapy. Both regimens were well tolerated, but raltegravir was associated with fewer drug-related clinical adverse events and smaller elevations in lipid levels. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00369941.

Raltegravir with optimized background therapy for resistant HIV-1 infection.

BACKGROUND: Raltegravir (MK-0518) is an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase active against HIV-1 susceptible or resistant to older antiretroviral drugs. METHODS: We conducted two identical trials in different geographic regions to evaluate the safety and efficacy of raltegravir, as compared with placebo, in combination with optimized background therapy, in patients infected with HIV-1 that has triple-class drug resistance in whom antiretroviral therapy had failed. Patients were randomly assigned to raltegravir or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. RESULTS: In the combined studies, 699 of 703 randomized patients (462 and 237 in the raltegravir and placebo groups, respectively) received the study drug. Seventeen of the 699 patients (2.4%) discontinued the study before week 16. Discontinuation was related to the study treatment in 13 of these 17 patients: 7 of the 462 raltegravir recipients (1.5%) and 6 of the 237 placebo recipients (2.5%). The results of the two studies were consistent. At week 16, counting noncompletion as treatment failure, 355 of 458 raltegravir recipients (77.5%) had HIV-1 RNA levels below 400 copies per milliliter, as compared with 99 of 236 placebo recipients (41.9%, P<0.001). Suppression of HIV-1 RNA to a level below 50 copies per milliliter was achieved at week 16 in 61.8% of the raltegravir recipients, as compared with 34.7% of placebo recipients, and at week 48 in 62.1% as compared with 32.9% (P<0.001 for both comparisons). Without adjustment for the length of follow-up, cancers were detected in 3.5% of raltegravir recipients and in 1.7% of placebo recipients. The overall frequencies of drug-related adverse events were similar in the raltegravir and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected patients with limited treatment options, raltegravir plus optimized background therapy provided better viral suppression than optimized background therapy alone for at least 48 weeks. (ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00293267 and NCT00293254.)

Subgroup and resistance analyses of raltegravir for resistant HIV-1 infection.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of raltegravir and the development of viral resistance in two identical trials involving patients who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with triple-class drug resistance and in whom antiretroviral therapy had failed. METHODS: We conducted subgroup analyses of the data from week 48 in both studies according to baseline prognostic factors. Genotyping of the integrase gene was performed in raltegravir recipients who had virologic failure. RESULTS: Virologic responses to raltegravir were consistently superior to responses to placebo, regardless of the baseline values of HIV-1 RNA level; CD4 cell count; genotypic or phenotypic sensitivity score; use or nonuse of darunavir, enfuvirtide, or both in optimized background therapy; or demographic characteristics. Among patients in the two studies combined who were using both enfuvirtide and darunavir for the first time, HIV-1 RNA levels of less than 50 copies per milliliter were achieved in 89% of raltegravir recipients and 68% of placebo recipients. HIV-1 RNA levels of less than 50 copies per milliliter were achieved in 69% and 80% of the raltegravir recipients and in 47% and 57% of the placebo recipients using either darunavir or enfuvirtide for the first time, respectively. At 48 weeks, 105 of the 462 raltegravir recipients (23%) had virologic failure. Genotyping was performed in 94 raltegravir recipients with virologic failure. Integrase mutations known to be associated with phenotypic resistance to raltegravir arose during treatment in 64 patients (68%). Forty-eight of these 64 patients (75%) had two or more resistance-associated mutations. CONCLUSIONS: When combined with an optimized background regimen in both studies, a consistently favorable treatment effect of raltegravir over placebo was shown in clinically relevant subgroups of patients, including those with baseline characteristics that typically predict a poor response to antiretroviral therapy: a high HIV-1 RNA level, low CD4 cell count, and low genotypic or phenotypic sensitivity score. (ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00293267 and NCT00293254.)

Design of a Phase III immunogenicity and safety study evaluating two-dose regimens of 9-valent human papillomavirus (9vHPV) vaccine with extended dosing intervals.

HPV vaccines are widely licensed as two-dose regimens, 6-12 months apart, for adolescents. Extended intervals between doses may be necessary due to resource constraints or vaccination program disruption. This international, multicenter, open-label study (NCT04708041) will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of two-dose 9vHPV vaccine regimens with extended intervals of 1-5 years between doses in boys/girls compared with a standard three-dose regimen in women. Participants (planned N = 700) will be enrolled into six cohorts; Cohort 0: boys/girls aged 10-15 years who received one 9vHPV vaccine dose ≥1 year before enrollment without completing the series will receive one study dose of 9vHPV vaccine at day 1; Cohorts 1-4: HPV vaccination-naïve boys/girls aged 9-14 years will receive two doses (day 1 and month 12, 24, 36, or 60); Cohort 5: HPV vaccination-naïve women aged 16-26 years will receive three doses (day 1, months 2 and 6). Primary analyses will be based on serological responses 1 month after final vaccine dose. Co-primary objectives will (1) evaluate non-inferiority of geometric mean titers in each of Cohorts 1-4 versus Cohort 5, and (2) characterize antibody responses in Cohort 0, accounting for the interval between commercial and study vaccine dose. Injection-site and systemic adverse events (AEs) will be collected for 15 days and serious AEs for 12 months post-vaccination; vaccine-related serious AEs and deaths will be collected throughout the study. Results will inform completion of vaccination in individuals who did not complete the recommended series and guide implementation of vaccination programs in resource-limited settings.

Efficacy, safety and central nervous system effects after switch from efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine to doravirine/tenofovir/lamivudine.

OBJECTIVE: Doravirine is an alternative treatment option for individuals who do not tolerate efavirenz. We assessed efficacy, safety, and CNS effects in adults with HIV-1 and CNS complaints who switched from an efavirenz-based regimen to a doravirine-based regimen. DESIGN: Multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial (NCT02652260). METHODS: Virologically suppressed adults receiving efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (EFV/FTC/TDF), or its components, with ongoing EFV-associated CNS toxicity grade 2 or higher (DAIDS criteria) were switched to doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir (DOR/3TC/TDF) on day 1 (Immediate Switch Group [ISG]) or after 12 weeks (Deferred Switch Group [DSG]). CNS toxicity data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with any grade 2 or higher CNS toxicity at week 12. Secondary endpoints included virologic response and effect on fasting lipids. RESULTS: Eighty-six participants (58% men, 56% black, median age 41 years, median 4 years on prior EFV regimen) were enrolled (43 ISG, 43 DSG) and included in the analyses. At week 12, 42% of ISG and 37% of DSG had at least 1 grade 2 or higher CNS toxicity [difference 4.7%, 95% CI (-16 to 25%); P = 0.33]. At 24 weeks postswitch, HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/ml was maintained in 95.3% of participants, and fasting lipids were significantly decreased (LDL-cholesterol -11.0, non-HDL-cholesterol -13.2, HDL-cholesterol -7.7, total cholesterol -20.9, and triglycerides -13.0 mg/dl). CONCLUSION: In participants who had CNS complaints while receiving EFV/FTC/TDF, improvement in CNS toxicities attributable to EFV was not significantly different after switching to DOR/3TC/TDF compared with remaining on EFV/FTC/TDF. Virologic efficacy was maintained and lipid profiles improved after switching to DOR/3TC/TDF.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Raltegravir-Containing Regimen in Children Aged 4 Weeks to 2 Years Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Receiving Rifampin for Tuberculosis.

Pharmacological interactions limit treatment options for children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). We found that 12 mg/kg twice daily raltegravir chewable tablets (administered after crushing) safely achieved pharmacokinetic targets in children living with HIV aged 4 weeks to <2 years receiving concurrent rifampin to treat TB. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01751568.

Long-term efficacy and safety of Raltegravir combined with optimized background therapy in treatment-experienced patients with drug-resistant HIV infection: week 96 results of the BENCHMRK 1 and 2 Phase III trials.

BENCHMRK-1 and -2 are ongoing double-blind phase III studies of raltegravir in patients experiencing failure of antiretroviral therapy with triple-class drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus infection. At week 96 (combined data), raltegravir (400 mg twice daily) plus optimized background therapy was generally well tolerated, with superior and durable antiretroviral and immunological efficacy, compared with optimized background therapy alone.

Raltegravir (RAL) in Neonates: Dosing, Pharmacokinetics (PK), and Safety in HIV-1-Exposed Neonates at Risk of Infection (IMPAACT P1110).

BACKGROUND: Adequate pharmacokinetic and safety data in neonates are lacking for most antiretroviral agents. Raltegravir is a selective HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor available in a granule formulation suitable for use in neonates and young infants as prophylaxis or treatment of HIV infection. METHODS: IMPAACT P1110 is a phase 1, multicenter, noncomparative dose-finding study of raltegravir in infants exposed to HIV-1 infection. A 2-cohort adaptive design was utilized where pharmacokinetic data from infants in cohort 1 who received 2 single doses of raltegravir 3 mg/kg were included in population modeling and simulations to guide selection of a daily dose for infants in cohort 2. RESULTS: A total of 52 infants enrolled in IMPAACT 1110: cohort 1 (N = 16) and cohort 2 (N = 36). Using simulations based on population PK modeling incorporating cohort 1 data, the following daily dosing regimen was selected for study: 1.5 mg/kg daily from birth through day 7; 3 mg/kg twice daily from days 8-28 of life; and 6 mg/kg twice daily after 4 weeks of age through 6 weeks of age. The geometric mean protocol exposure targets for AUC, Ctrough, and Cmax were met or slightly exceeded in all infants. The chosen neonatal raltegravir dosing regimen was safe and well tolerated in full-term neonates during treatment over the first 6 weeks of life and follow-up to age 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Raltegravir can be safely administered to full-term infants using the daily dosing regimen studied. This regimen is not recommended for use in premature infants in a new version of P1110.

Impact of Low Birth Weight and Prematurity on Neonatal Raltegravir Pharmacokinetics: Impaact P1097.

BACKGROUND: HIV treatment of neonates requires identifying appropriate antiretroviral dosing regimens. Our aims were to characterize raltegravir elimination kinetics in low birth weight (LBW) neonates after maternal dosing and to develop a pharmacokinetic model to predict raltegravir plasma concentrations for term and preterm neonates. METHODS: Mothers living with HIV who received raltegravir during pregnancy and their LBW neonates participated in IMPAACT P1097 study. Up to 6 serial plasma samples were collected from each infant over the first 2 postnatal weeks to characterize raltegravir elimination. Safety laboratory evaluations were obtained, and infants were monitored for 6 weeks for signs of raltegravir toxicity. An integrated maternal-neonatal pharmacokinetic model was developed to predict neonatal raltegravir plasma concentrations. RESULTS: Sixteen mothers and their 18 LBW neonates were enrolled. The median (range) raltegravir elimination half-life was 24.4 (10.1-83) hours (N = 17 neonates). No adverse events related to raltegravir in utero exposure were observed. Pharmacokinetic modeling revealed that raltegravir clearance in full-term LBW neonates was well described by allometric scaling but clearance in preterm LBW neonates was better described using slower clearance maturation kinetics. Simulations suggest receipt of the current dosing recommendations in a 34-week gestation neonate would result in plasma concentrations up to 2.5-fold higher than those observed in full-term LBW infants. CONCLUSIONS: Modeling suggests that prematurity reduces raltegravir clearance and a modified raltegravir dosing regimen will be necessary to avoid elevated plasma raltegravir concentrations.

Effects of omeprazole on plasma levels of raltegravir.

Raltegravir, a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase inhibitor, has pH-dependent solubility. Raltegravir plasma concentration increases with omeprazole coadministration in healthy subjects; this is likely secondary to an increase in bioavailability attributable to increased gastric pH. Increased gastric pH has been reported in HIV-1-infected individuals, and the effects of omeprazole in this intended population may be diminished. Further investigation is necessary.

Use of Modeling and Simulations to Determine Raltegravir Dosing in Neonates: A Model for Safely and Efficiently Determining Appropriate Neonatal Dosing Regimens: IMPAACT P1110.

BACKGROUND: Population modeling and simulations can be used to facilitate the conduct of phase I studies to develop safe and effective dosing regimens in neonates. SETTING: P1110 is an international, multicenter trial to determine safe and effective raltegravir doses in neonates at risk for HIV infection. METHODS: P1110 used a 2-cohort adaptive design incorporating population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations. An initial cohort of neonates received 2 single oral doses of raltegravir with standard-of-care therapy for prevention of perinatal transmission-one within 48 hours of birth and a second at 7-10 days of life. Raltegravir concentration data after administration of these doses were combined with data from a previous study of infants aged 4 weeks to 2 years. The combined database was used for population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations to select a daily dosing regimen for investigation in a second cohort of neonates. RESULTS: Raltegravir concentration data from 6 neonates were combined with data from infants aged 4 weeks to 2 years receiving raltegravir twice daily. The combined data set allowed for successful development of a population pharmacokinetic model with reasonable precision of parameter estimates. Monte Carlo simulations were run to evaluate potential daily dosing regimens from birth to 6 weeks of age, allowing for selection of a regimen to be evaluated in a subsequent cohort of neonates receiving chronic raltegravir dosing. CONCLUSIONS: An adaptive design incorporating population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations was used to select a developmentally appropriate neonatal raltegravir dosing regimen in the first 6 weeks of life.

Maternal-Neonatal Raltegravir Population Pharmacokinetics Modeling: Implications for Initial Neonatal Dosing.

Raltegravir readily crosses the placenta to the fetus with maternal use during pregnancy. After birth, neonatal raltegravir elimination is highly variable and often extremely prolonged, with some neonates demonstrating rising profiles after birth despite removal from the source of extrinsic raltegravir. To establish an appropriate dosing regimen, an integrated maternal-neonatal pharmacokinetics model was built to predict raltegravir plasma concentrations in neonates with in utero raltegravir exposure. Postnatal age and body weight were used as structural covariates. The model predicted rising or decreasing neonatal elimination profiles based on the time of maternal drug administration relative to time of birth and degree of in utero drug disposition into the central and peripheral compartments. Based on this model, it is recommended to delay the first oral dose of raltegravir until 1-2 days of age in those neonates born to mothers who received raltegravir during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.