Women in Dual With Dolutegravir

Strategies for optimizing antiretroviral treatment in virologically suppressed patients are still a major challenge in the field of HIV. These strategies include improving the toxicity and tolerability of drugs in the short and long term, such as replacing toxic agents with safer ones or reducing the number of drugs in the combination. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a novel prodrug of tenofovir (TFV) that is converted intracellularly to the active form, resulting in higher concentrations of TFV diphosphate in circulating lymphocytes than those obtained with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Because of these pharmacokinetic properties, TAF results in 91% lower plasma exposure to TFV. Phase 3 studies have established the virological noninferiority of TAF to TDF, with a lower frequency of renal and bone adverse events. Replacing TDF with TAF may be a safe and effective option to reduce toxicities when switching from one ARV strategy to another and, to date, could represent the optimization of a three-drug regimen. Dolutegravir (DTG) is a potent INSTI that exhibits rapid and potent viral load reduction and a high barrier to resistance.

Inclusion Criteria:Female individualsHIV-1 documented infectionAge > 18 yearsBeing on an effective (pVL < 50 copies/ml) three-drug cART regimen containing tenofovir (TAF or TDF) (e.g. TAF/F/E/C; TAF/F/RPV; TDF/F/RPV; TAF/F+PI/C; TDF/F/PI/c; TAF/F+PI/r; TDF/F/PI/r; TAF/F+DTG; TDF/F/DTG; TAF/F+RTG; TDF/F/RTG; TAF/F/BIC) for at least 3 months before the screening. Two consecutive HIV-1 RNA determinations below the determination threshold before enrollment are requiredNo known allergy or intolerance to NRTIs, NNRTIs or INSTIsWomen of childbearing potential will be required to adopt an effective birth control system throughout the study periodSubjects able to comply with the protocol requirementsInformed consent signedExclusion Criteria:Having failed virologically any previous ART regimen · Evidence of any 3TC (presence of M184V/I or K65R/E/N) or INSTI resistance · Having ever been treated with mono or dual ARV therapies subsequently intensified to three-drug cART regimenPregnancy or breast-feeding or not willing to use effective contraception if they are of child bearing potentialAn active malignancy or OI requiring active treatment (prophylactic regimens are allowed) · HBV infection · A life expectancy < 2 years