Use of Generic Antiretroviral Drugs and Single-Tablet Regimen De-Simplification for the Treatment of HIV Infection in Spain

The present study sought to describe the use of generic drugs and single-tablet regimen (STR) de-simplification for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among 41 hospitals from the cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). In June 2018, we collected information on when generic antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) were introduced in the different hospitals, how the decisions to use them were made, and how the information was provided to the patients. Most of the nine available generic ARVs in Spain by June 2018 had been introduced in at least 85% of the participating hospitals, except for zidovudine (AZT)/lamivudine (3TC) and AZT. The time difference between the effective marketing date of each generic ARV and its first dispensing date in the hospitals was much shorter for the more recently approved generic ARV since the year 2017. However, only up to 20% of the hospitals de-simplified efavirenz (EFV)/tenofovir disoproxil (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC), dolutegravir (DTG)/abacavir (ABC)/3TC, and rilpivirine (RPV)/TDF/FTC (to generic EFV+TDF/FTC, DTG+generic ABC/3TC, and RPV+generic TDF/FTC, respectively), whereas the generic STR EFV/TDF/FTC was introduced in 87.8% of the centers. The median times between the date of effective marketing of generic TDF/FTC and the date of de-simplification of EFV/TDF/FTC and RPV/TDF/FTC were 723 [interquartile range (IQR): 369-1,119] and 234 (IQR: 142-264) days, respectively; this time was 155 (IQR: 28-287) days for de-simplification of DTG/ABC/3TC. In conclusion, despite the widespread use of generic ARVs, STRs de-simplification was only undertaken in <20% of the hospitals. There was wide variability in the timing of the introduction of each generic ARV after they were available in the market.

Effectiveness of the combination elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir/emtricitabine (EVG/COB/TFV/FTC) plus darunavir among treatment-experienced patients in clinical practice: a multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of the combination elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir/emtricitabine plus darunavir (EVG/COB/TFV/FTC + DRV) in treatment-experienced patients from the cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS).

METHODS

Treatment-experienced patients starting treatment with EVG/COB/TFV/FTC + DRV during the years 2014-2018 and with more than 24 weeks of follow-up were included. TFV could be administered either as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir alafenamide. We evaluated virological response, defined as viral load (VL) < 50 copies/ml and < 200 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks after starting this regimen, stratified by baseline VL (< 50 or ≥ 50 copies/ml at the start of the regimen).

RESULTS

We included 39 patients (12.8% women). At baseline, 10 (25.6%) patients had VL < 50 copies/ml and 29 (74.4%) had ≥ 50 copies/ml. Among patients with baseline VL < 50 copies/ml, 85.7% and 80.0% had VL < 50 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks, respectively, and 100% had VL < 200 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks. Among patients with baseline VL ≥ 50 copies/ml, 42.3% and 40.9% had VL < 50 copies/ml and 69.2% and 68.2% had VL < 200 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks. During the first 48 weeks, no patients changed their treatment due to toxicity, and 4 patients (all with baseline VL ≥ 50 copies/ml) changed due to virological failure.

CONCLUSIONS

EVG/COB/TFV/FTC + DRV was well tolerated and effective in treatment-experienced patients with undetectable viral load as a simplification strategy, allowing once-daily, two-pill regimen with three antiretroviral drug classes. Effectiveness was low in patients with detectable viral loads.

[Cross sectional study of comorbidities and concomitant medications in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients]

Objetivo

Valorar la prevalencia de comorbilidades, tratamientos concomitantes y episodios adversos asociados a la medicación en una cohorte de pacientes con infección por VIH.

Diseño

Estudio transversal multicéntrico.

Emplazamiento

Consultas externas especializadas del servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas o Medicina Interna de 3 hospitales de la comunidad autónoma del País Vasco.

Participantes

Durante 3 meses se seleccionaron de forma aleatoria pacientes con los siguientes criterios de inclusión: infección por VIH, edad superior a 18 años, tratamiento antirretroviral (TAR) desde al menos 6 meses y pauta de TAR estable las últimas 4 semanas. Se incluyeron 224 pacientes del total de 225 previstos.

Mediciones principales

Se recogieron mediante formulario datos epidemiológicos y antropométricos relativos a la infección por VIH, comorbilidades, tratamientos concomitantes y episodios adversos.

Resultados

El 95,5% de los pacientes presentaban alguna comorbilidad, siendo las más frecuentes: infección por VHC (51,3%), dislipidemias (37,9%), glucemia basal alterada o diabetes mellitus (21,9%) e hipertensión arterial (21,9%). El 69,2% tomaban alguna medicación concomitante al TAR: ansiolíticos (21,4%), antihipertensivos (19,6%), inhibidores de la bomba de protones (17,9%), estatinas (17%) o antidepresivos (16,5%). El 62,9% presentaban algún efecto adverso, los más frecuentes la alteración de la distribución de grasa corporal (32,6%) y digestivos (24,1%).

Conclusiones

Nuestros pacientes con infección por VIH son cada vez mayores, con mayor número de comorbilidades, con uso muy frecuente de tratamientos concomitantes y elevada prevalencia de episodios adversos. Esto obliga a un abordaje multidisciplinar y a una labor coordinada con atención primaria.