Gender Makes Little Difference in Antiretroviral Response

In a large trial, investigators found few meaningful differences between men and women with respect to ART efficacy and toxicity but had trouble retaining female participants.

Women are often underrepresented in clinical trials, and AIDS research is no exception. Now, researchers have conducted a trial designed specifically to encourage female enrollment and to examine possible gender-based differences in response to darunavir-based antiretroviral therapy.

The investigators recruited 287 women and 142 men, all treatment-experienced (median CD4 counts, 210 cells/mm³ and 175 cells/mm³, respectively). All study participants received open-label ritonavir-boosted darunavir and two other drugs chosen by investigators. The trial was sponsored by the maker of darunavir.

At 48 weeks, the intent-to-treat analysis showed a slightly higher virologic response rate among men than women (59% vs. 51%), but this difference could be…

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Gender Makes Little Difference in Antiretroviral Response

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Reviewing Author