Improving ART — the Pipeline Remains Open in 2013

At CROI 2013, investigators presented findings from a phase III study of dolutegravir, clinical data on tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), and initial data on a new NNRTI (MK-1439).

It was gratifying to see that new antiretroviral drug development continues in 2013 despite the fact that treatment success with current antiretroviral therapy (ART) is now expected — we are surprised when a person does not achieve virologic suppression. Among the highlights at this year's CROI were reports on several investigational drugs.

Dolutegravir

In the phase III SAILING (ING111762) study involving 715 ART-experienced, integrase inhibitor–naive patients, the investigational integrase inhibitor dolutegravir, 50 mg once daily, was superior to raltegravir, 400 mg twice daily, at 24 weeks, when administered with two other ART drugs (at least one of which was fully active). The difference in response rates (79% of dolutegravir-group patient…

Author

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services