Real-world evidence reinforces the use of Biktarvy for the treatment of people living with HIV with a range of comorbidities

The latest five-year data from two Phase III studies (Study 1489 and Study 1490) provide evidence of the long-term safety and efficacy profile of Biktarvy in those who switch from a dolutegravir-containing regimen. The data were presented at the 30th International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV Glasgow 2022).

New real-world data was presented from the 24-month BICSTaR follow-up analysis, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of Biktarvy in clinical practice across nine countries. The analysis included follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic and considered age, race, sex, adherence, and late diagnosis in the population group. Trial participants who initiated treatment with Biktarvy experienced high viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies ml). overall, 97% (104 107) of treatment-naïve and 95% (497 521) of treatment-experienced participants achieved viral suppression (missing="excluded" analysis) at 24 months. there were no reports of treatment-emergent resistance. treatment discontinuations (14% overall) were low, and few people (7%) discontinued biktarvy as a result of drug-related aes (draes). the most commonly reported drug-related adverse events were weight change (3%) and depression (1%). these data reinforce the safety and durability of biktarvy for people with hiv with a high level of comorbidities.

“These latest data demonstrate how innovation and improvement in HIV treatment options can help people living with HIV and their clinicians identify an HIV treatment regimen that supports their treatment over the long-term,” said Benoit Trottier, MD, Physician and Director of Research at Clinique de Médecine Urbaine du Quartier Latin, Montreal, Canada. “Factors such as aging and comorbidities are vital components of long-term health discussions. The BICSTaR study reinforces the real-world effectiveness of Biktarvy across populations with a range of comorbidities and the findings are consistent with evidence from randomized clinical trials of Biktarvy treatment.”

Additional data from Study 1489 and Study 1490 presented at the conference show Biktarvy to have high efficacy and sustained safety for people switching to the treatment, with a continued high barrier to resistance. These outcomes were reported in participants 96 weeks after switching to open-label Biktarvy following 144 weeks of blinded dolutegravir + 2 NRTIs. At Week 240, more than 99% of participants in both Study 1489 (217/218; missing=excluded) and Study 1490 (232/234; missing=excluded) achieved viral suppression. Additionally, at every visit through 240 weeks, the study showed that following the switch to Biktarvy, efficacy was greater than 96% (missing=excluded), demonstrating that Biktarvy may provide sustained viral suppression for people with HIV, even after switching treatments.

Biktarvy was generally well tolerated, with 0.4% (2/519) of switch participants in both studies experiencing an AE that led to drug discontinuation in the open-label extension period. There were no renal discontinuations. The most commonly reported adverse events during the open-label extension phase were diarrhea (0.6%) and weight change (0.6%).

On October 14, 2022, the FDA approved a label change for Biktarvy, updating the prescribing information to include efficacy data from 144 weeks and safety data from 240 weeks of clinical trial data in adults with HIV who were initiating therapy in Study 1489 and Study 1490.