Assessment of swallowability and acceptability of scored darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablets in HIV-1-infected children aged ≥6 to <12 years, using matching placebo tablets: A randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) fixed-dose combination (FDC) was developed as a once-daily, complete antiretroviral (ARV) regimen therapy to address the need for simplified protease inhibitor-based ARV regimens. This study assessed the swallowability and acceptability for long-term use of scored placebo tablets matching the D/C/F/TAF FDC tablets in children living with HIV-1. METHODS: This study (NCT04006704) was a Phase 1, open-label, randomized, single-dose, 2-period, 2-sequence crossover study in children living with HIV-1, aged ≥6 to <12 years and weighing ≥25 to <40 kg, on a stable ARV regimen for ≥3 months. Participants were asked to swallow whole (size, 21 × 11 × 7 mm) and split matching placebo D/C/F/TAF tablets. Swallowability of the matching placebo D/C/F/TAF tablets (primary endpoint) was assessed by observers. Acceptability of taking matching placebo D/C/F/TAF tablets and current ARVs was evaluated by participants using a 3-point questionnaire. Participants rated the acceptability for long-term daily use of the placebo D/C/F/TAF tablets, and observers assessed how easily caregivers could split a scored tablet by hand, using 3-point questionnaires. RESULTS: Among the 24 participants who enrolled and completed the study, 95.8% (23/24) were able to swallow the whole and split matching placebo D/C/F/TAF tablets after 1 or 2 attempts. Most participants (>70%) rated the acceptability of tablets for long-term daily use as acceptable or good to take. Breaking the tablets was considered easy or OK by 79.2% (19/24) of caregivers. CONCLUSION: Scored D/C/F/TAF FDC tablets are swallowable - with whole favoured over split - and considered at least acceptable for long-term daily intake in children living with HIV-1 aged ≥6 to <12 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04006704.

Dual Therapy With Darunavir and Ritonavir Plus Lamivudine vs Triple Therapy With Darunavir and Ritonavir Plus Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate and Emtricitabine or Abacavir and Lamivudine for Maintenance of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Viral Suppression: Randomized, Open-Label, Noninferiority DUAL-GESIDA 8014-RIS-EST45 Trial.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to assess the therapeutic noninferiority of dual therapy with darunavir/ritonavir and lamivudine compared to triple therapy with darunavir/ritonavir plus 2 nucleos(t)ides for maintenance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) suppression. METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial (margin 12%). Patients with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL for 6 months or longer on triple therapy with darunavir/ritonavir and 2 nucleos(t)ides (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine or abacavir and lamivudine) and with no resistance were randomized to continue therapy (n = 128) or switch to darunavir/ritonavir and lamivudine (n = 129). The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL after 48 weeks of follow-up according to the snapshot algorithm. RESULTS: A total of 249 participants received study drugs (intention-to-treat exposed). The proportion of participants with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL in the dual- and triple-therapy arms was 88.9% (112/126) and 92.7% (114/123; difference, -3.8%; 95% confidence interval, -11.0 to 3.4), respectively. Four participants in the dual-therapy arm and 2 in the triple-therapy arm developed protocol-defined virological failure. Switching to dual therapy was associated with a significant increase in total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but not in the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio. Serious adverse events and study drug discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in 4.8% vs 4.9%P = .97) and in 0.8% (1/126) vs 1.6% P = .55) in dual therapy vs triple therapy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dual therapy with darunavir/ritonavir and lamivudine demonstrated noninferior therapeutic efficacy and similar tolerability compared to triple therapy. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02159599.

Persistence, adherence, and all-cause healthcare costs in atazanavir- and darunavir-treated patients with human immunodeficiency virus in a real-world setting.

OBJECTIVES: Atazanavir (ATV) and darunavir (DRV) are protease inhibitors approved for HIV treatment in combination with ritonavir (/r). The objectives of this study were to compare persistence (time to treatment discontinuation/modification), adherence, and healthcare costs among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) initiating ATV/r or DRV/r. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used commercial and Medicaid administrative insurance claims data. Patients initiating ATV/r or DRV/r from 2006-2013 with continuous enrollment for ≥6 months before and ≥3 months after initiation were included. Patients were followed from initiation until discontinuation/modification (≥30 day gap in ATV or DRV or initiation of a new antiretroviral medication), during which time adherence (proportion of days covered [PDC], with PDC ≥80% or 95% considered adherent) and per-patient per-month (PPPM) total healthcare costs were measured. DRV/r patients were propensity score matched to ATV/r patients at a 1:1 ratio to achieve balance on potentially confounding demographic and clinical factors. Commercial and Medicaid samples were analyzed separately, as were antiretroviral (ART)-naïve and experienced patients. RESULTS: The final samples comprised 2988 commercially-insured and 1158 Medicaid-insured patients. There were no significant differences in hazards of discontinuation/modification between the ATV/r or DRV/r cohorts. With respect to odds of being adherent, the only marginally significant result was comparing odds of achieving PDC ≥80% among ART-naïve Medicaid patients, which favored ATV/r. All other adherence comparisons were not significant. Although ATV/r cohorts tended to have lower PPPM costs, the majority of these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HIV treated with either ATV/r or DRV/r had similar time to treatment discontinuation/modification, adherence, and monthly healthcare costs. Results were similar across the pre-specified sub-groups. These findings are useful not only as an insight into clinical practice, but also as a resource for healthcare providers and payers evaluating treatment options for HIV+ individuals.

Darunavir de 600mg comprimidos revestidos como terapia antirretroviral para adultos infectados pelo HIV/Aids / Darunavir 600mg coated tablets as antiretroviral therapy for adults infected with HIV / AIDS

DADOS EPIDEMIOLÓGICOS E DE UTILIZAÇÃO DO MEDICAMENTO: Do início da epidemia, em 1980, até junho de 2013, o Brasil registrou 686.478 casos de AIDS. Em 2012 foram notificados 39.185 novos casos dessa síndrome e a taxa de incidência foi de 20,2 casos por 100 mil habitantes (Brasil, 2013). Apesar dos avanços na Terapia Antirretroviral (TARV), muitas pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) ainda apresentam falha terapêutica, causada principalmente por baixa adesão ao tratamento, terapias com potência virológica insuficiente, resistência viral e fatores farmacológicos tais como interação medicamentosa, eventos adversos e inadequações posológicas. Visando superar a falha terapêutica, podem ser realizadas modificações na TARV. Essa estratégia é conhecida como terapia de resgate (Brasil, 2013). O Darunavir (DRV), utilizado na terapia de resgate, é um medicamento de terceira linha pertencente à classe dos inibidores de protease (IP) com alta afinidade pela HIV-1 protease. Se comparado a outros IP, o DRV apresenta potência antiviral elevada, inclusive frente a cepas de HIV-1 multidrogas-resistentes. É uma droga bem tolerada e seus efeitos adversos são semelhantes aos provocados por esquemas de IP com incremento pelo Ritonavir (RTV). Atualmente, o Protocolo Clinico e Diretriz Terapêutica (PCDT) recomenda a administração de 600 mg de DRV, associado a 100 mg de RTV, a cada 12 horas, preferencialmente com alimentos, devendo ser incluído no esquema antirretroviral somente na ausência de outro IP/r com atividade plena. Apesar disso, a apresentação adquirida pelo Ministério da Saúde para o tratamento de pacientes adultos é de comprimidos de 300 mg, sendo necessário ingerir dois comprimidos para atingir a posologia recomendada (Brasil, 2008; Brasil, 2014). Pela comprovada eficácia como medicamento de resgate de terceira linha e por seu alto custo, o DRV está sendo considerado pelo Comitê Assessor para Terapia Antirretroviral em Adultos Infectados pelo HIV/Aids como uma droga reservada para casos de multirresistência. É essencial evitar a monoterapia funcional, isto é, seu uso sem acompanhamento de outra droga ativa. Foram, portanto, definidos critérios que devem orientar seu uso (Brasil, 2013). Atualmente, cerca de 7000 pacientes utilizam Darunavir 300mg em seu esquema de tratamento antirretroviral. CONSIDERAÇÕES TÉCNICAS: O Darunavir vem sendo disponibilizado pelo Sistema Único de Saúde desde 2008 para uso exclusivo na terapia de resgate em terceira linha. De acordo com o PCDT, a utilização de medicamento de terceira linha está restrita a pacientes que tenham falha virológica confirmada, teste de genotipagem realizado no máximo há 12 meses e resistência a pelo menos um antirretroviral das classes: Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa Análogos Nucleosídeos, Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa Não-Análogos de Nucleosídeos e Inibidores de Protease. Atualmente a maior dosagem padronizada de DRV na Rename é o comprimido de 300 mg. A recomendação posológica para o paciente adulto é de 2 comprimidos a cada 12 horas, perfazendo os 600 mg recomendados em cada administração. Portanto, a inclusão do DRV 600 mg representa a substituição do uso de dois comprimidos de DRV 300 mg por paciente adulto. A incorporação da apresentação Darunavir 600mg tem como principal vantagem permitir que o paciente reduza pela metade o número de comprimidos tomados diariamente em combinação com outros antirretrovirais que compõem seu regime terapêutico. CONCLUSÃO: solicita-se a inclusão da apresentação do Darunavir 600mg comprimido revestido por representar os seguintes ganhos aos cuidados/serviços de saúde: 1. Melhor comodidade posológica dos usuários de Darunavir, favorecendo a adesão à terapia; 2. Ausência de impacto financeiro e potencial redução de custos referentes a armazenamento e distribuição de medicamentos; 3. Otimização das atividades de Assistência Farmacêutica em todos os níveis federativos. DECISÃO: PORTARIA Nº 6, de 16 de março de 2015 - Torna pública a decisão de incorporar o medicamento darunavir de 600mg, comprimidos revestidos, como terapia antirretroviral para adultos infectados pelo HIV/Aids no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS.