Triumeq (dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine) / ViiV Healthcare - LARVOL DELTA

Metabolomic Profile of Weight Gain of People Living with HIV Treated with Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor Regimens Reveals Dysregulated Lipid Metabolism and Mitochondrial Dysfunction. (PubMed, Metabolites) - P=N/A | "Sixty-six participants were randomized to receive INSTI-based regimens, either bictegravir/tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (BIC/TAF/FTC) or dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine (DTG/ABC/3TC), and followed for 18 months. In addition, accumulation of circulating medium-chain acylcarnitines, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance were linked to weight gain in PWH on INSTI-based regimens after 18 months of therapy. This metabolomic study identified metabolites reflecting mitochondrial dysfunction, dysregulated lipid metabolism, and altered amino acid metabolism as key mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and weight gain in PWH on INSTI-based ART."

Clinical • Journal • Dyslipidemia • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Hypertriglyceridemia • Infectious Disease • Metabolic Disorders

Effectiveness and safety of dolutegravir/lamivudine/abacavir versus bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide as first-line regimens in real-world settings (MICTLAN study). (PubMed, Int J STD AIDS) - "BIC/FTC/TAF was more effective in patients with low baseline CD4 + counts, while DTG/3TC/ABC performed better with higher viral loads. DTG/3TC/ABC had more neuropsychiatric AEs and rare hypersensitivity reactions."

Clinical • Journal • Real-world evidence • CNS Disorders • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Insomnia • Psychiatry • Sleep Disorder • CD4

Chronic cocaine self-administration disturbs K+ channel activity in cortical astrocytes of rats and that is worsened by neuroHIV but diminished by chronic cART treatment (Neuroscience 2025) - "This not only evokes astrocyte reactivity, but also worsens astrocyte dysfunction in the context of neuroHIV, which could enhance neurotoxicity by elevating [K+]e or damage astrocytes by rising intracellular osmolarity. Further study needs to define if COC-SA plus Triumeq-induced reversal of K+ channel dysfunction was due to a protective mechanism or damage."

Preclinical • CNS Disorders • Cognitive Disorders • Psychiatry

Treatment Persistence and Switch Among Medicare-Insured People with HIV and Gaps in Care. (PubMed, Infect Dis Ther) - "Among Medicare-insured PWH with low adherence or significant gaps in care, those receiving B/F/TAF had a lower risk of switch compared with other ART regimens. Optimizing ART selection to improve persistence and reduce treatment switching remains an important consideration."

Journal • Medicare • Reimbursement • US reimbursement • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Growing Up with HIV: A Comprehensive Review of Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. (PubMed, Curr HIV/AIDS Rep) - "Increasing availability of pediatric fixed dose combinations (FDC) of abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir (ABC/3TC/DTG) may address some challenges but providing alternatives should be prioritized. Increased child and adolescent-friendly treatment options are needed to provide quality life-long comprehensive care to CALHIV in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Expanded research and access to novel therapies is key to close treatment gaps between CALHIV and their adult counterparts and address emerging HIV drug resistance."

Journal • Review • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Pediatrics

Rapid development of drug resistance during initial dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy of an infant with HIV. (PubMed, South Afr J HIV Med) - "We describe an infant who developed high-level resistance to abacavir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir within 97 days of initiation, despite initial wild-type infection. Causative factors likely include probable sub-therapeutic antiretroviral drug levels, poor tolerance, severe immunocompromise, and a high pre-treatment viral load."

Journal • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

HIV Antiretroviral Therapy and Drinking Water Contaminant Exposures Induce Cardiac Function Changes in Women of Childbearing Age (AHA 2025) - "Here, we analyzed non-pregnant animals, which will later be compared to pregnant counterparts. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a common cART regimen (abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine; Triumeq) or vehicle (aqueous methylcellulose/Tween 80)... Our data suggest cART and co-exposure to PFOS impact cardiac function in adult rats. While more prominent initially, the healthy unstressed heart seems to adapt to the drugs' effects over time, although signs of hypertrophy remain. Analysis of the pregnant cohort will reveal whether the physiological strain of pregnancy sensitizes the cardiovascular system of the animals."

Clinical • Cardiovascular • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

User informed design of oral dispersible strips (ODS) to deliver pediatric antiretroviral therapy in Kenya: A mixed methods evaluation of product preferences and acceptability. (PubMed, PLoS One) - "Providers and caregivers believed the ODS prototypes held great promise to ease ART administration to infants and young children which would improve medication adherence."

Journal • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Pediatrics

Real-World Persistence in Adults with HIV and Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders After Restarting Antiretroviral Therapy in the United States. (PubMed, Adv Ther) - "For PWH-MHD/SUD who restarted ART after a treatment interruption, B/F/TAF was associated with longer persistence and the lowest risk of switch compared with other guideline-recommended therapies."

Journal • Real-world evidence • CNS Disorders • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Psychiatry

ART persistence among treatment-experienced people with HIV and mental health disorders in the US (EACS 2025) - "Individuals were indexed at the first claim between 01/07/2017 – 30/11/2023 for B/F/TAF, DTG/ABC/3TC, DTG/3TC, DTG+F/TDF, DTG+F/TAF, or CAB+RPV for all who had prior treatment experience on any regimen with or without an intervening gap of any duration. Conclusions : PWH on B/F/TAF were more likely to persist at 1 year compared to other ART regimens among both those with MH/SUD or low adherence. These findings in the US support prior European studies."

Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Encephalitis caused by ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus in a late-presenting person living with HIV, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and multiple opportunistic infections (EACS 2025) - "He received BIC/FTC/TAF, azithromycin, ethambutol, cotrimoxazole, and chemotherapy for DLBCL (Figure 1A, 1B)...Ganciclovir and CMV-IVIG were initiated, followed by valganciclovir...Foscarnet was stopped due to septic shock. CMV resistance to ganciclovir and cidofovir was confirmed in November 2023, prompting the addition of letermovir...As of May 2025, the PLWH is clinically stable on DTG/3TC/ABC and letermovir prophylaxis. Ganciclovir-resistant CMV treatment is burdened by scarcity of second-choice medications, toxicity and uncertain CNS penetration. Letermovir might be an effective treatment alternative."

Cytomegalovirus Infection • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Septic Shock • CD4

Incidence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in ART-Naïve People Living with HIV Initiating DTG/ABC/3TC vs. BIC/FTC/TAF: A 96-Week Analysis from a Mexican Cohort (EACS 2025) - "Clinicians should weigh these metabolic risks when selecting ART regimens, particularly for PLHIV with risk factors for liver disease. Larger studies with extended follow-up are needed to validate these results and elucidate underlying mechanisms."

Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

An audit of antiretroviral regimens in people living with HIV attending an HIV/sexual health clinic in Sydney’s Inner West in response to the REPRIEVE study (EACS 2025) - "The most common ARV regimen was bictegravir/tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (n=167), dolutegravir/lamivudine (n=115), dolutegravir and tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (n=35), dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine (n=21) and injectable cabotegravir/rilpivirine (n=17)...The majority were were switched to dolutegravir/lamivudine (92%) with one switched to long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine...Conclusions : This audit demonstrates the need to track and systematically review ARV regimes of PLWH to modernize treatment and prevent co-morbidities, particularly MACE. Further study is required to examine why some PLWH are reluctant to change therapy and to explore client focused strategies to ensure HIV treatment and co-morbidity prevention are optimized."

Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Treatment switch among US Medicare beneficiaries with HIV (EACS 2025) - "The index date was the earliest initiation date of the following regimens: B/F/TAF, DTG/3TC, DTG/ABC/3TC, or DTG+FTC/TAF or DTG+FTC/TDF (multi-tablet regimens [MTRs]). In adjusted analyses, the HR of switch was 1.28 (CI: 1.13, 1.44) for DTG/3TC, 2.33 (2.15, 2.52) for DTG/ABC/3TC, and 4.75 (4.08, 5.55) for MTRs compared to B/F/TAF overall, with similar results in the mental health/substance use disorders subgroup (all P <0.05, Table 2 ). Conclusions : Among Medicare PWH, those taking B/F/TAF had lower likelihood of switch and longer time to switch than PWH taking other ART regimens, complementing persistence data from other countries."

Medicare • Reimbursement • US reimbursement • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Patient-Reported Health and Virological Outcomes Among People with HIV Switching to Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine (LANTERN) (EACS 2025) - "Antiretroviral therpy regimens before switching included BIC/FTC/TAF (n=37, 27.1%), DTG/3TC (n=65, 47.4%), DTG/RPV (n=6, 4.4%), TAF/FTC/RPV (n=28, 20.4%) and DTG/3TC/ABC (n=1, 0.7%). Conclusions : Switching to CAB plus RPV LA was associated with improved treatment satisfaction and high acceptance, alongside high rates of virological suppression, with no individuals experiencing virological failure during the observation period. In conclusion, this study suggests that CAB plus RPV LA may be a beneficial treatment option in Taiwan."

Clinical • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Regimen Initiation or Switch in Virologically Suppressed People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) on Lipid Profile at 48 weeks: A Systematic Literature Review (EACS 2025) - "In the naïve poupaltion, B/F/TAF and DTG/ABC/3TC initiation were associated with reductions in the total cholesterol/HDL ratio (up to -3.8 and -4 mg/dl, respectively), suggesting a potentially favorable impact on lipid metabolism...vsPWH continuing B/F/TAF showed slight increase in the ratio (from -0.1 to 2.2 mg/dl), while those vsPWH switching from B/F/TAF to DTG/3TC had a slight improvement (-0.2 mg/dl)...However, in the switching population, this ratio generally remained stable across switch strategies, indicating a limited impact on lipid profile. Financial support: Gilead Sciences"

Review • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Immune reconstitution in very advanced HIV patients treated with Dolutegravir vs Darunavir-based triple antiretroviral therapy. The Advanz-4 randomized clinical trial. (PubMed, Clin Microbiol Infect) - P4 | "DTG/3TC/ABC is safe and efficacious in very advanced ART-naïve HIV+ patients, induced a faster virological response, and was superior to the DRV/r regimen in reducing inflammation and bacterial translocation markers at 48 weeks."

Clinical • Journal • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Inflammation • TNFA

Blood pressure and metabolic outcomes after efavirenz- or dolutegravir-based therapy started in acute HIV infection. (PubMed, HIV Med) - "In these young men initiating ART during AHI, DTG/ABC/3TC users exhibited greater increases in BMI, SBP, TC and LDL than EFV/TDF/FTC users by week 96. In addition to body weight changes, clinicians should remain vigilant regarding blood pressure and cholesterol changes following ART initiation, especially in those with pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors."

Journal • Retrospective data • Cardiovascular • Dyslipidemia • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • CD4 • CD8

Clinical outcomes on B/F/TAF and dolutegravir-based regimens at 12 months following regimen switch: an observational cohort study. (PubMed, AIDS Res Ther) - "Despite differences in baseline characteristics and regimen adherence between individuals switched to B/F/TAF, DTG STRs, and MTRs, both B/F/TAF and DTG-based regimens were associated with high rates of virologic suppression. This data strongly supports the inclusion of these simple and safe regimens as switch options in virologically suppressed PWH. Baseline differences in patient demographics and characteristics may have impacted the adherence on B/F/TAF compared to DTG STR, however virologic outcomes were preserved, demonstrating the forgiveness of B/F/TAF in populations potentially facing adherence challenges."

Clinical data • Journal • Observational data • Retrospective data • Cardiovascular • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • CD4

HIV resistance to dolutegravir varies with co-administered agents. (PubMed, Clin Infect Dis) - "Multivariable analysis of 183 viremic (≥200c/mL) participants from four cohorts (N=660 participants) found dolutegravir-resistance in 21 (11.5%). Dolutegravir-resistance was greater with dolutegravir+lamivudine+zidovudine/(one on stavudine) (OR=19.4, 95%CI 5.1-74.3) or dolutegravir+lamivudine+abacavir (OR=5.4, 95%CI 1.1-25.8), compared to dolutegravir+lamivudine+tenofovir."

Journal • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

No changes in weight, body composition or metabolic parameters after the switch to dolutegravir and lamivudine compared to continued treatment with dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine for virologically suppressed HIV infection (The AVERTAS trial). (PubMed, BMC Infect Dis) - "Continuing or discontinuing abacavir for 48 weeks was associated with modest gains in weight that did not differ between groups. Similarly, fat distribution, or metabolic parameters were comparable between groups."

Clinical • Journal • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

Research on the Psychological Status of Patients With HIV-1 Infection (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A | N=500 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: Shanxi Bethune Hospital

New trial • CNS Disorders • Depression • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Mood Disorders • Psychiatry

Gestational exposure to HIV drugs alters intestinal mucosa-associated microbial diversity in adult rat offspring. (PubMed, Exp Biol Med (Maywood)) - "The antiretroviral (ARV) drug combination of abacavir sulfate, dolutegravir, and lamivudine [ABC/DTG/3TC; Tri combination Anti-retroviral therapy (TC-ART)] has revolutionized HIV treatment by effectively targeting different stages of viral replication. The high dose exposure also showed an increase in opportunistic bacterial species in male animals. Overall, we found that, similar to the fecal microbiome, perinatal exposure to TC-ART led to sex- and dose-dependent alterations in the gut mucosa-associated microbial population in aged rats, suggesting that early life exposure to these drugs may influence gut mucosa-associated immune responses and intestinal permeability."

Journal • Preclinical • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • Inflammation

TLACAELEL: Efficacy, Safety, and ToLerability of Switching to A Two-Drug Regimen With DTG/3TC Compared to Maintaining A Three-Drug REgimen With BIC/FTC/TAF or DTG/3TC/ABC in ViroLogically SupprEssed PeopLe Living With HIV After 24 and 48 Weeks of Follow-Up (clinicaltrials.gov) - P4 | N=156 | Recruiting | Sponsor: José Antonio Mata Marín

New P4 trial • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease

RALAM: Safety & Efficacy of Dual Therapy With Raltegravir/Lamivudine (clinicaltrials.gov) - P3 | N=75 | Completed | Sponsor: Juan A. Arnaiz | Unknown status ➔ Completed

Trial completion • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Infectious Disease • B2M