A Randomized Trial to Compare Dolutegravir Plus Boosted Darunavir Versus Recommended Standard of Care Antiretroviral Regimens in People With HIV-1, Whose First-line Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Therapy Has Failed: Final 96-week Results of the D2EFT Study.

BACKGROUND

Longer-term outcome data following second-line antiretroviral therapy initiation in resource-limited settings is limited, especially in regions where genotypic resistance is inaccessible. This analysis evaluated extended efficacy and tolerability data from the D2EFT study.

METHODS

D2EFT is a completed, multicenter, phase IIIB/IV, randomized, open-label trial in 14 low- and middle-income countries. People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had failed first-line non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens were switched to 1 of ritonavir-boosted darunavir plus 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (DRV/r + 2NRTIs), ritonavir-boosted darunavir plus dolutegravir (DTG + DRV/r), or dolutegravir with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus either lamivudine or emtricitabine (DTG + TDF/XTC), with or without pre-switch genotyping. Here we report virological suppression at 96 weeks, defined as HIV RNA <50 copies/mL in a modified intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

Between November 2017 and January 2022, 1190 participants were screened, 828 were randomized, and 826 were included in the analysis. At week 96, the proportions of participants with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL were 191/251 (76.1%) in DRV/r + 2NRTIs, 215/251 (85.7%) in DTG + DRV/r, and 231/283 (81.6%) in DTG + TDF/XTC. The treatment differences (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) in proportions achieving virological suppression were 9.6% (2.7, 16.4) in DTG + DRV/r and 9.0% (1.4, 16.6) in DTG + TDF/XTC, compared to DRV/r + 2NRTIs. Intermediate or high-level dolutegravir resistance was identified in 3/27 (13%) of virological failures in individuals taking DTG + TDF/XTC but in no one taking DTG + DRV/r. No darunavir resistance was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

After 96 weeks of follow-up, DTG + DRV/r and DTG + TDF/XTC demonstrated virological superiority over DRV/r + 2NRTIs after first-line NNRTI-failure. However, emerging dolutegravir resistance, which was observed only in individuals taking DTG + TDF/XTC, requires ongoing global surveillance.