January 2016
Dolutegravir, sold as Tivicay and in a pill called Triumeq (containing dolutegravir + abacavir + 3TC), belongs to a class of anti-HIV drugs called integrase inhibitors. These drugs, when used as part of potent combination anti-HIV therapy (commonly called ART), can quickly reduce the amount of HIV in the blood. Other licensed integrase inhibitors are elvitegravir (found in Genvoya and Stribild) and raltegravir (Isentress).
Dolutegravir-based regimens have performed very well in clinical trials, showing good general safety and either rough equivalence or statistical superiority to other leading regimens. Dolutegravir derives its potency, in part, because it binds very tightly to a viral enzyme called integrase. This enzyme is needed by HIV to help the virus insert its genetic material into a cell's DNA. Minor changes, or mutations, in integrase generally do not stop dolutegravir from binding to HIV. Furthermore, dolutegravir seems to bind to integrase for a relatively long period of time (hours). The relatively long time that dolutegravir binds to integrase may make it difficult for HIV to develop high-level resistance, particularly in people who are using dolutegravir-based ART for the first time, provided they take ART every day, exactly as directed.
Dolutegravir's advantages in clinical trials -- its relative potency, safety, once-daily dosing (in people who have not taken ART before), lack of food restrictions and limited drug interactions -- have caused researchers to theorize about different ways of using the drug. For instance, because dolutegravir is so powerful, some researchers are seeking to test this drug in simplification studies. In such studies, regimens are simplified from the usual four or three drugs to two or even one drug alone.
While dolutegravir is indeed powerful, it is not invincible. If used improperly, treatment failure can occur, particularly in people who have previously used integrase inhibitors. Therefore, simplification regimens are best pursued by entering clinical trials. We will have details from some simplification studies later in this issue of TreatmentUpdate. These trials should be viewed as pilot studies or providing preliminary results because they are generally small and of short duration (six to 12 months). They may provide interesting results, but such results require confirmation in a larger trial of more robust statistical design.
Dolutegravir's power has also intrigued some researchers to move in the opposite direction of simplification -- intensification. In such studies, standard ART regimens are intensified by adding dolutegravir. Researchers at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and elsewhere are planning such intensification studies.
Is Dolutegravir Alone Enough to Control HIV? |
Remarkable Results With Dolutegravir Monotherapy |
Why Dolutegravir Might Get Us Closer to Ending AIDS: Next Step, Further Research |
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