Lesson Learned from Early Study of Elvitegravir

Elvitegravir is an investigational integrase inhibitor that can be dosed once daily when given with ritonavir or the experimental pharmacologic booster cobicistat (JW AIDS Clin Care Mar 15 2010). How does it compare with a boosted protease inhibitor (PI) in treatment-experienced patients?

In a phase II, manufacturer-sponsored trial, 278 patients with viral loads ≥1000 copies/mL and evidence of at least one PI resistance mutation were randomized to receive ritonavir-boosted elvitegravir at one of three doses (20, 50, or 125 mg daily) or a comparator boosted PI. Background therapy for all patients consisted of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) with or without enfuvirtide, which was used at the discretion of the study investig…