Cobicistat Noninferior to Ritonavir in Boosted PI–Based Regimen

Ritonavir boosting improves the effectiveness of numerous protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimens and allows for less frequent, lower dosing of the PI. Now, investigators are exploring whether similar results can be achieved with cobicistat, a new pharmacoenhancer that lacks intrinsic antiviral activity and is typically used to boost the integrase inhibitor elvitegravir.

At AIDS 2012, Joel Gallant presented the results of a double-blind, manufacturer-sponsored, phase III, randomized trial comparing cobicistat (150 mg) to ritonavir (100 mg) when used in combination with atazanavir (300 mg) and tenofovir/FTC [Abstract TUAB0103]. The study involved 692 treatment-naive HIV-infected patients who had baseline viral loads ≥5000 copies/mL (median, ≈4…