Single-dose pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral tenofovir and emtricitabine in blood, saliva and rectal tissue: a sub-study of the ANRS IPERGAY trial.

OBJECTIVES: In the ANRS IPERGAY pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trial, a single dose of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine was taken orally 2-24 h before sexual intercourse. A sub-study was conducted to assess the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir and emtricitabine in blood, saliva and rectal tissue following this initial oral intake. METHODS: Plasma, PBMC, saliva and rectal tissue sampling was performed over 24 h in 12 seronegative men before enrolment in the ANRS IPERGAY trial, following a single dose of 600 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/400 mg emtricitabine. Ex vivo HIV infectibility of rectal biopsies was also assessed. RESULTS: The median plasma Tmax of tenofovir (median Cmax: 401 µg/L) and emtricitabine (median Cmax: 2868 µg/L) was obtained 1 h (range: 0.5-4) and 2 h (range: 1-4) after dosing, respectively. The median C24 of tenofovir and emtricitabine was 40 and 63 µg/L, respectively. The median PBMC tenofovir diphosphate and emtricitabine triphosphate levels were 12.2 and 16.7 fmol/106 cells and 2800 and 2000 fmol/106 cells at 2 and 24 h after dosing, respectively. Saliva/plasma AUC0-24 ratios were 2% and 17% for tenofovir and emtricitabine, respectively. Emtricitabine was detected in rectal tissue 30 min after dosing, whereas tenofovir was only detectable at 24 h. Ex vivo HIV infectibility assays of rectal biopsies showed partial protection after dosing (P < 0.07). DISCUSSION: A single high dose of oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine provides rapid and high blood levels of tenofovir and emtricitabine, with rapid diffusion of emtricitabine in saliva and rectal tissue.

Addition of boceprevir to PEG-interferon/ribavirin in HIV-HCV-Genotype-1-coinfected, treatment-experienced patients: efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics data from the ANRS HC27 study.

BACKGROUND: Scarce data exist on the efficacy and safety of the PEGylated-interferon/ribavirin/boceprevir regimen in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who failed to respond to PEGylated-interferon/ribavirin treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this drug regimen and the impact of the addition of boceprevir(BOC) on atazanavir (ATV) or raltegravir (RAL) pharmacokinetic parameters in a subgroup of patients. METHODS: In this single-arm phase 2 trial, HIV-1/HCV-genotype-1-coinfected patients received PEGylated-interferonα2b (1.5 µg/kg/week)+ ribavirin (800-1400 mg/day) alone until W4 and with BOC(800 mgTID) until W48. Based on virologic response at W8, the three drugs were stopped or PEGylated-interferon/ribavirin was continued alone until W72. The primary endpoint was SVR at W24 off-therapy (SVR24). RESULTS: 64 patients were included. SVR24 was achieved in 53% of patients (CI90%: 43-63%) and in 90% of previous relapsers. In univariate analysis, SVR24 was associated with response to previous HCV treatment, HCV-1b subtype, HCV-RNA decline, ribavirin-Ctrough at W4, and HCV-RNA at W8 but not to fibrosis score, IL28B genotype, or boceprevir-Ctrough at W8. In multivariate analysis, SVR24 remained associated with response to previous HCV treatment [non-responders versus null responders: OR=5.0(1.3-20.0); relapsers vs. null responders: OR=28.8(4.9-169.5)]. HCV treatment was discontinued for adverse events in 17% of patients. A 51% decrease in ATV/r-AUC0-8 h (p<0.01) and a 57% increase in RAL-AUC0-8 h (p<0.01) were observed, although atazanavir/r or raltegravir did not affect BOC-AUC0-8 h significantly. The ATV mean Cthrough fell from 763.8 ng/mL (CI 95%: 230.3-1297.3) without BOC to 507.7 ng/mL (CI 95%: 164-851.4) with BOC. CONCLUSIONS: Boceprevir-based regimen demonstrated a high SVR24 rate in treatment-experienced HIV-HCV genotype-1-coinfected relapsers.

Raltegravir Pharmacokinetics in Patients on Asunaprevir-Daclatasvir.

Raltegravir pharmacokinetics was studied in 20 patients included in the ANRS HC30 QUADRIH Study before and after addition of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) quadritherapy, including pegylated-interferon-ribavirin and asunaprevir plus daclatasvir. Raltegravir pharmacokinetic parameters remained unchanged whether administered on or off anti-HCV therapy. In addition, concentrations of raltegravir, asunaprevir, and daclatasvir were not affected by liver cirrhosis. These data suggest that in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV-coinfected patients, whether cirrhotic or not, asunaprevir and daclatasvir could be administered safely with raltegravir.

Telaprevir for HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients failing treatment with pegylated interferon/ribavirin (ANRS HC26 TelapreVIH): an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Retreatment with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) results in poor sustained virological response (SVR) rates in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients. There are limited data regarding the use of telaprevir plus peg-IFN/RBV in this population. METHODS: HIV type 1-infected patients who previously failed ≥12 weeks of peg-IFN/RBV for HCV genotype 1 coinfection were enrolled in a single-arm, phase 2 trial. Patients with cirrhosis and previous null response were excluded. Authorized antiretrovirals were tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz, atazanavir, and raltegravir. All patients received peg-IFN alfa-2a (180 µg/week) plus RBV (1000-1200 mg/day) for 4 weeks, followed by telaprevir (750 mg or 1125 mg every 8 hours with efavirenz) plus peg-IFN/RBV for 12 weeks and peg-IFN/RBV for 32-56 weeks according to virological response at week 8. The primary endpoint was the SVR rate at 24 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR24). RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients started treatment; SVR24 was achieved in 55 (80% [95% confidence interval, 68%-88%). SVR24 was not influenced by baseline fibrosis stage, IL28B genotype, antiretroviral regimen, HCV subtype, CD4 cell count, previous response to HCV treatment, HCV RNA level, or HCV RNA decline at week 4. HCV treatment was discontinued for adverse events (AEs) in 20% of patients, including cutaneous (4%), psychiatric (4%), hematological (6%), and other AEs (6%). Peg-IFN or RBV dose reduction was required in 23% and 43% of patients, respectively. Seventy percent of patients required erythropoietin, blood transfusions, or RBV dose reduction for anemia. Two patients died during the study. No HIV breakthrough was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high discontinuation rate related to toxicity, a substantial proportion of treatment-experienced HIV-coinfected patients achieved SVR24 with a telaprevir-based regimen. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT01332955.

AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma can occur during peginterferon-α and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection.

INTRODUCTION: Before the arrival of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), interferon α has been used successfully to treat AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Peginterferon-α (pegIFN-α) may still be used successfully in refractory KS. CASE: Peginterferon-α and ribavirin (RBV) were initiated to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in an HIV-infected patient with high CD4 counts having discontinued antiretroviral therapy (ART). He developed disseminated KS 6 months after HCV treatment began. Beginning of ART, discontinuation of pegIFN/RBV, and 2 cycles of doxorubicine were necessary to treat KS. DISCUSSION: Despite its activity on KS, thanks to its antiviral and antiangiogenic properties, PegIFN was unable to prevent the occurrence of severe KS. The absence of ART, despite high CD4 counts, and interferon-induced lymphopenia probably triggered the occurrence of KS in this patient.

Concentrations of tenofovir and emtricitabine in saliva: implications for preexposure prophylaxis of oral HIV acquisition.

To prevent acquisition of HIV through oral sex, drugs used for preexposure prophylaxis (Prep) need to diffuse in saliva. We measured tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC) concentrations simultaneously in the plasma and saliva of 41 HIV-infected patients under stable antiretroviral treatment. Mean ratios of saliva/plasma concentration were 3% (±4%) and 86.9% (±124%) for TFV and FTC, respectively. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) should be used in combination with FTC to prevent oral acquisition of HIV.

Case report: Cure of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus after 6 weeks of peg-interferon and ribavirin in a patient co-infected with HIV.

The recommended treatment duration of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 48 weeks. This report describes a patient co-infected with HCV genotype 2 and HIV who discontinued HCV therapy after 6 weeks because of adverse events and had a sustained virologic response.

Efficacy and safety of daclatasvir plus pegylated-interferon alfa 2a and ribavirin in previously untreated HCV subjects coinfected with HIV and HCV genotype-1: a Phase III, open-label study.

BACKGROUND: Daclatasvir (DCV) is a potent, pangenotypic, hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 5A inhibitor with low potential for drug interactions with antiretroviral therapy (ART). We evaluated the safety and efficacy of DCV plus peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) in HIV-1/HCV genotype-1-coinfected patients. METHODS: AI444043 (NCT01471574), an open-label, Phase III, single-arm, response-guided treatment (RGT) study included 301 patients. They received DCV doses of 30, 60 or 90 mg once daily (depending on concomitant ART), plus weight-based RBV (<75 kg, 1000 mg/day; or ≥75 kg, 1200 mg/day), and once-weekly PegIFN 180 µg, for 24 weeks. If required by RGT, PegIFN/RBV without DCV was extended for an additional 24 weeks of therapy. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with sustained virologic response at post-treatment Week 12 (SVR12). RESULTS: Overall, 224 (74%) patients achieved SVR12 and the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was higher than the historic SVR rate with PegIFN/RBV alone (70 vs. 29%). Most common adverse events (AEs) were fatigue, neutropenia, anemia, asthenia and headache. On-treatment serious AEs occurred in 24/301 (8%) patients; 18/301 (6%) discontinued treatment due to AE. CONCLUSIONS: DCV + PegIFN/RBV led to sustained HCV virologic response in the majority of HIV-1-HCV-coinfected patients, regardless of concomitant ART. HIV control was not compromised and no new safety signals were identified. This study supports DCV use in HIV-1-HCV-coinfected patients, while allowing the vast majority of patients to remain on their existing ART regimen.

Effect on HBs antigen clearance of addition of pegylated interferon alfa-2a to nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy versus nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy alone in patients with HBe antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B and sustained undetectable plasma hepatitis B virus DNA: a randomised, controlled, open-label trial.

BACKGROUND: Findings from uncontrolled studies suggest that addition of pegylated interferon in patients with HBe antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues with undetectable plasma hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA might increase HBs antigen (HBsAg) clearance. We aimed to assess this strategy. METHODS: In this randomised, controlled, open-label trial, we enrolled patients aged 18-75 years with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and documented negative HBV DNA while on stable nucleos(t)ide analogue regimens for at least 1 year from 30 hepatology tertiary care wards in France. Patients had to have an alanine aminotransferase concentration of less than or equal to five times the upper normal range, no hepatocellular carcinoma, and a serum α fetoprotein concentration of less than 50 ng/mL, normal dilated fundus oculi examination, and a negative pregnancy test in women. Patients with contraindications to pegylated interferon were not eligible. A centralised randomisation used computer-generated lists of random permuted blocks of four with stratification by HBsAg titres (< or ≥2·25 log10 IU/mL) to allocate patients (1:1) to receive a 48 week course of subcutaneous injections of 180 µg per week of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in addition to the nucleos(t)ide analogue regimen or to continue to receive nucleos(t)ide analogues only. The primary endpoint was HBsAg loss at week 96 by intention-to-treat analysis. This trial is closed and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01172392. FINDINGS: Between Jan 20, 2011, and July 18, 2012, we randomly allocated 185 patients (92 [50%] to pegylated interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues and 93 [50%] to nucleos(t)ide analogues alone). We excluded two patients from the pegylated interferon plus nucleos(t)ide analogues group from analyses because of withdrawal of consent (one patient) or violation of inclusion criteria (one patient). At week 96, loss of HBsAg was reported in seven (7·8%) of 90 patients in the pegylated interferon plus nucleos(t)ide analogues group versus three (3·2%) of 93 in the nucleos(t)ide analogues-alone group (difference 4·6% [95% CI -2·6 to 12·5]; p=0·15). 85 (94%) of 90 patients started pegylated interferon, three (4%) of whom had a dose reduction and 17 (20%) had an early discontinuation of pegylated interferon (seven [41%] for serious adverse events). Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were more frequent in the pegylated interferon plus nucleos(t)ide analogues group (26 [29%] grade 3 adverse events; 19 [21%] grade 4 adverse events) than in the nucleos(t)ide analogues-alone group (three [3%] grade 3; six [6%] grade 4). INTERPRETATION: Addition of a 48 week course of pegylated interferon to nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B with undetectable HBV DNA for a least 1 year was poorly tolerated and did not result in a significant increase of HBsAg clearance. FUNDING: Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale-Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida et les hépatites virales (France Recherche Nord&sud Sida-vih Hepatites).

Telaprevir enhances ribavirin-induced anaemia through renal function impairment.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in renal function have been described with telaprevir (TVR). We examined the relationship between ribavirin (RBV) trough concentration (C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and severe anaemia, before and after TVR introduction in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients included in ANRS HC26 TelapreVIH study. METHODS: 69 HIV-HCV genotype-1 coinfected patients received 4 weeks of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α2a/RBV, followed by 12 weeks of TVR/PEG-IFN/RBV, then 32 to 56 weeks of PEG-IFN/RBV. RBV C was determined at week (W)4, W8 and W20/24. eGFR was estimated by the Modification of the Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Severe anaemia was defined as haemoglobin <70 g/l, RBV dose reduction, prescription of erythropoietin or blood transfusion. RESULTS: 67 patients were analysed. eGFR remained normal between baseline (97.9 ml/min) and W4 (103.4 ml/min), declined to 86.3 ml/min at W8 (P<0.0001), stabilized until W16 and increased back to baseline level at W20 (98.4 ml/min). RBV C increased from 1.88 mg/l at W4 to 2.88 mg/l at W8 (P<0.0001), then decreased to 2.73 mg/l at week 20/24 (P=0.015). An inverse correlation was observed between W8 eGFR and W8 RBV C (r2=0.429; P=0.0005). RBV C≥3 mg/l was observed in 12% of patients at W4, 45% at W8 (P<0.0001) and 38% at W20/24 (P=0.0005). Severe anaemia was observed in 23.9% of patients at W4 and 45.3% at W8. RBV C≥3 mg/l at W8 (OR 7.7 [95% CI 2.2, 27.4]) and baseline haemoglobin <150 g/l (OR 6.4 [1.7, 23.8]) were independently associated with W8 severe anaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Association of TVR to PEG-IFN/RBV was associated with a decrease in eGFR and increase in RBV C, leading to severe anaemia in 45% of patients.

The effects of a maintenance therapy with peg-interferon alpha-2a on liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that, in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HIV/HCV) co-infected patients who did not respond to peg-interferon and ribavirin, a maintenance therapy with peg-interferon could induce fibrosis regression. METHODS: This was a randomized study with two parallel groups. HIV/HCV co-infected patients received peg-interferon α-2a at 180 µg/week or remained on observation for 96 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who experienced a decrease of at least one point in their Metavir fibrosis score between initial and final liver biopsies. Secondary endpoints included plasma fibrosis markers at week 96, occurrence of HCV-related complications, and survival. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were randomized (peg-interferon: 25; control: 27) including 18 with cirrhosis. The median (interquartile range) age was 44 (40-46) years, and 69% were male. A total of 64% had ALT levels >1.5 normal values, and the CD4 cell count was 391 (296-537) cells/mm(3); 67% of patients had HIV RNA <200 copies/mL at entry. The main endpoint was assessed in 41 patients. Response rates were 3/20 (15%) and 4/21 (19%) in the peg-interferon and control groups, respectively (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference between peg-interferon and control groups on plasma fibrosis markers at the final visit. Severe liver-related complications were observed in 2 and 5 patients in peg-interferon and control groups, respectively. Three deaths were observed, all in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A maintenance therapy with peg-interferon α-2a over 96 weeks in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, who were non-responders to HCV treatment, did not change liver fibrosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00122616.

Sensitivity of five rapid HIV tests on oral fluid or finger-stick whole blood: a real-time comparison in a healthcare setting.

BACKGROUND: Health authorities in several countries recently recommended the expansion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing, including the use of rapid tests. Several HIV rapid tests are now licensed in Europe but their sensitivity on total blood and/or oral fluid in routine healthcare settings is not known. METHODS AND FINDINGS: 200 adults with documented HIV-1 (n=194) or HIV-2 infection (n=6) were prospectively screened with five HIV rapid tests using either oral fluid (OF) or finger-stick whole blood (FSB). The OraQuick Advance rapid HIV1/2 was first applied to OF and then to FSB, while the other tests were applied to FSB, in the following order: Vikia HIV 1/2, Determine HIV 1-2, Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo and INSTI HIV-1/HIV-2. Tests negative on FSB were repeated on paired serum samples. Twenty randomly selected HIV-seronegative subjects served as controls, and the results were read blindly. Most patients had HIV-1 subtype B infection (63.3%) and most were on antiretroviral therapy (68.5%). Sensitivity was 86.5%, 94.5%, 98.5%, 94.9%, 95.8% and 99% respectively, with OraQuick OF, OraQuick FSB, Vikia, Determine, Determine Ag/Ab Combo and INSTI (p<0.0001). OraQuick was less sensitive on OF than on FSB (p=0.008). Among the six patients with three or more negative tests, two had recent HIV infection and four patients on antiretroviral therapy had undetectable plasma viral load. When patients positive in all the tests were compared with patients who had at least one negative test, only a plasma HIV RNA level<200 cp/ml was significantly associated with a false-negative result (p=0.009). When the 33 rapid tests negative on FSB were repeated on serum, all but six (5 negative with OraQuick, 1 with INSTI) were positive. The sensitivity of OraQuick, Determine and Determine Ag/Ab Combo was significantly better on serum than on FSB (97.5%, p=0.04; 100%, p=0.004; and 100%, p=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: When evaluated in a healthcare setting, rapid HIV tests were less sensitive on oral fluid than on finger-stick whole blood and less sensitive on finger-stick whole blood than on serum.

Treatment of facial lipoatrophy with intradermal injections of polylactic acid in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of intradermal injections of polylactic acid (PLA) in patients with facial lipoatrophy under antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: In a prospective open-label study, PLA was injected in both cheeks every 2 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the patient's self-perception of improvement as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary endpoints included 3-dimensional photographs (3DP) to measure dermal thickness, quality of life (QoL) scores, and adverse events. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients received a median of 5 sets of injection in both cheeks. Median age was 43 years, and median CD4 cell count was 500/mm3. Median VAS score significantly increased from 3.4/10 at baseline to 6.8/10 at the end of the treatment procedure and was sustained at 7/10 at the end of follow-up (P < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Median dermal thickness increase was 2.3 mm at the end of follow-up. QoL scores remained unchanged. Seventeen patients needed further injections of PLA during a median follow-up of 12 months. Injections were well tolerated with only 1 serious adverse event (anaphylactic reaction) that necessitated treatment interruption. CONCLUSIONS: Injections of PLA improved patients' self-perception of facial lipoatrophy, with a good safety profile. The benefit of the procedure, however, decreased with time.