DORA: 48-week weight and metabolic changes in Black women with HIV, in a phase IIIb switch study from dolutegravir- or efavirenz- to doravirine-based first-line antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Treatment-related weight gain and metabolic complications with antiretroviral integrase-based regimens, especially among Black women, suggest the need for alternative options. METHODS: We conducted a 48-week, open-label, single-arm, single-centre, phase IIIb switch study to evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of switching from stable efavirenz- or dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy to doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in Black women. RESULTS: The 101 participants enrolled (median age 35 years; interquartile range 31-40) were on efavirenz (n = 46; mean duration on therapy 1.7 years) or dolutegravir-based (n = 55; mean duration 1.5 years) antiretrovirals at screening. Retention at 48 weeks was 92/101 participants, and viral suppression was >90% throughout the study, with a single case of doravirine resistance (106 M, V108I and H221Y mutations). The mean weight percentage change at week 48 was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0-6.5; p < 0.001), and the adjusted mean change was 2.7 kg (95% CI 1.50-3.98; p < 0.001); for efavirenz, the percentage change was 5.0% (95% CI 2.9-7.1; p < 0.001), and the adjusted weight gain was 3.5 kg (95% CI 1.93-5.13); for dolutegravir, the percentage change was 4.5% (95% CI 1.8-7.3; p < 0.001), and the adjusted weight gain was 2.1 kg (95% CI 0.26-3.90). Statistically significant decreases in lipid panel percent mean to week 48 included: total cholesterol -8.4% (95% CI -11.3 to -5.5; p < 0.001), triglycerides -10.4% (95% CI -16.4 to -4.4; p < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein -14.8% (95% CI -18.5 to -11.2%; p < 0.001), with minor differences when disaggregating the mean percent change in lipids between previous efavirenz/dolutegravir regimens. Adverse events due to doravirine were few and mild. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a switch to doravirine from efavirenz or dolutegravir is safe and effective in Black women, with significant improvement in lipid profiles, but does not arrest progressive weight gain.

Comparing Prospective Incident Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Rates During Successive Waves of Delta and Omicron in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In high-risk individuals in Johannesburg, during the Delta coronavirus disease 2019 wave, 22% (125/561) were positive, with 33% symptomatic (2 hospitalizations; 1 death). During Omicron, 56% (232/411) were infected, with 24% symptomatic (no hospitalizations or deaths). The remarkable speed of infection of Omicron over Delta poses challenges to conventional severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 control measures.