A phase 3 clinical trial found that a weekly two-drug HIV regimen is as effective as a standard daily three-drug treatment for maintaining viral suppression.
Key facts
- •The study included 607 adults across 12 countries and was funded by Gilead Sciences and Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- •Medication adherence averaged nearly 99% for the weekly group and approximately 96% for the daily group.
- •Serious adverse events were reported in 5.3% of the weekly-treatment group and 4.6% of the daily-treatment group.
- •The weekly pill is a combination of the antiretroviral drugs islatravir and lenacapavir.
- •Participants in the trial had a median age of 49, with 15% aged 65 or older.
A large international clinical trial has determined that a once-weekly oral HIV medication is as effective as standard once-daily treatment. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, compared a two-drug combination of islatravir and lenacapavir against the widely used daily three-drug regimen Biktarvy. Results showed that both treatments successfully maintained viral suppression in more than 93% of participants over 48 weeks.
By the numbers
Trial Results and Methodology
The phase 3 trial, known as ISLEND-1, involved 607 adults across 106 sites in 12 countries. Participants were randomly assigned to either the weekly pill or the daily Biktarvy regimen. At the 48-week mark, no participants in the weekly group had a viral load of 50 copies per milliliter or higher, while one participant in the daily group exceeded that threshold. No participants in either group experienced virological failure.
Considerations and Limitations
Researchers noted that the study participants already had well-controlled HIV and high medication adherence, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to those who struggle with daily dosing. Additionally, the weekly pill does not treat hepatitis B, unlike the daily regimen, and one participant in the weekly group developed hepatitis B during the study. Further data from the ongoing trial is expected at 96 weeks to provide more information on long-term safety and effectiveness.
Addressing Pill Fatigue
The weekly regimen aims to reduce 'pill fatigue,' the emotional or behavioral weariness associated with daily medication. By reducing the number of doses from 365 to 52 per year, researchers suggest the weekly option could provide a less stigmatizing and more flexible alternative for patients. Experts noted that while daily therapy remains a standard, expanding options allows for more personalized HIV management.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Healthline.
