Gilead Sciences’ Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) suppresses HIV as effectively as a regimen of Tivicay (dolutegravir) plus Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide), aidsmap reports. Biktarvy was associated with a lower rate of adverse health events compared with the other regimen, according to 96-week data in an advanced clinical trial.

Presenting their findings at the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV Glasgow) in Scotland, researchers enrolled 645 people with HIV who were starting treatment for the virus for the first time. The participants were randomized in a double-blinded fashion to receive Biktarvy or Tivicay plus Descovy.

Tivicay and the bictegravir component of Biktarvy are both integrase inhibitors.

Findings from the study’s 48-week mark were presented at the 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris (IAS 2017) and indicated that there was no difference in the viral suppression rate between the two regimens.

At the 96-week mark, all of those who received Biktarvy had a fully suppressed viral load compared with 98.2 percent of those who received Tivicay plus Descovy, a difference that was statistically significant, meaning it is unlikely to have been driven by chance.

Twenty-eight percent of those who received Tivicay plus Descovy experienced adverse health events considered related to the regimen, compared with 20 percent of those who received Biktarvy, a difference that was statistically significant. Two percent of each group discontinued treatment because of adverse health events. The most common adverse health events were nausea, diarrhea and headache.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.

To read the conference abstract, click here.