An international clinical trial has explored alternative approaches to second-line HIV therapy - with promising results.
Luci Bamford
The Kirby Institute at UNSW
0432894029
Two newer simplified treatment options are at least as effective as current approaches, according to the results of a world-first international clinical trial into second-line HIV therapy led by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney and presented today at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Seattle.
Second-line treatment refers to the treatment options available to people with HIV when the first treatment offered to them is ineffective. This is the case for approximately 10 per cent of people with HIV worldwide.
This important discovery is significant globally, as it provides evidence for a range of treatment options for over 3 million people living with HIV worldwide whose initial treatment fails. This is critical for improving treatment accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income nations.
“Recommendations for second-line therapy are generally effective at achieving viral suppression; however, some involve drug resistance testing which can be a strain on health systems. Furthermore, many treatments require multiple pills, and they can have some side effects,” says Professor Gail Matthews from the Kirby Institute, who presented the findings at CROI. “Understanding the pros and cons of different treatment approaches is important to guide decision making.”
The D2EFT study was designed to compare one standard approach for second-line HIV treatment against two alternative second-line regimens.
The newer treatment options were found to be at least as good as the standard of care in achieving viral suppression, but have potential additional benefits in terms of cost, tolerability and simplification.
“This finding of non-inferiority has significant implications for the management of HIV globally,” says Professor Matthew Law from the Kirby Institute. “Adopting either of these simplified treatments could mean administering fewer pills, avoids the need for specialised resistance tests, and reduces the cost of the medication. In low- and middle-income countries where health systems and supply chains can be fragile, having these simplified treatment options can optimise access to treatment, while providing equally high levels of viral suppression.”
D2EFT enrolled 831 patients from 14 countries. Patients were randomised to one of the three arms.
“The Kirby Institute has a large clinical network and participating sites have done an immense job to keep this trial going through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of our D2EFT trial are particularly robust because the study was conducted across an incredibly diverse group of countries. We’re confident that the findings are relevant and important internationally, but most urgently, in low- and middle-income countries,” says Prof. Law.
Meg Doherty, Director of WHO's Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes in Geneva, has welcomed the results of the D2EFT study. “The findings further reinforce the current WHO recommendation of using dolutegravir as the preferred antiretroviral option, while also providing new insights into the simplification of second-line HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries,” she said.
The D2EFT study is funded primarily by global health agency Unitaid, with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), ViiV Healthcare, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Janssen.