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Safety and Efficacy of Reduced Versus Standard Dose Efavirenz (EFV) Plus Two Nucleotides in Antiretroviral-naïve Adults.

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
HIV Infections
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT01011413
Lead Sponsor
Kirby Institute
Brief Summary

Clinical data suggests that the standard dose of the anti-HIV medication, efavirenz (EFV), could be reduced without compromising its effectiveness. Lower drug doses could have fewer side effects and would make EFV more affordable. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness, over 96 weeks, of standard (600mg) versus reduced dose (400mg) EFV in controlling HIV as part of initial combination antiretroviral therapy.

Detailed Description

In this international, multicenter trial, 630 HIV infected patients who have not received any previous treatment for their HIV-infection will be enrolled. Participants will be randomized equally (1:1) to receive Truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine) with either the standard or reduced dose of EFV. Neither the study doctor nor the participant will know which treatment the participant is receiving. Physical examinations, laboratory analyses and questionnaires will be performed at the 11 study visits at screening, baseline (Week 0), Weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96. The primary aim of this study is to compare between treatment groups the proportion of patients with undetectable HIV viral load (HIV RNA \< 200 copies/mL) after 48 weeks. Information on immune function, drug adherence, resistance to antiretrovirals, quality of life, mental state and HIV-related conditions will also be collected. Blood samples will be collected for future testing. Interim analyses will be performed when the first 125 participants in each treatment group reach week 24 and when all participants reach week 24. These interim analyses will provide an early check that the reduced dose of EFV suppresses HIV infection as effectively as the standard dose of EFV. A follow-up analysis will be performed when all participants reach week 96.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
636
Inclusion Criteria
  • HIV-1 positive by licensed diagnostic test
  • aged >16 years of age (or minimum age as determined by local regulations or as legal requirements dictate)
  • 50 < cluster of differentiation (CD)4 <500 cells/µL
  • No prior AIDS-defining illness, using the Center for Diseases Control 1993 Case Definition (except pulmonary tuberculosis)
  • HIV RNA ≥1000 copies/mL
  • no prior exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) (including short course ART for preventing MTCT)
  • calculated creatinine clearance (CLCr) more than or equal to 50 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula)
  • provision of written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • the following laboratory values:

    • absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <500 cells/μL
    • hemoglobin <7.0 g/dL
    • platelet count <50,000 cells/μL
    • alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase >5 x upper limit of normal
  • pregnant women or nursing mothers

  • active opportunistic or malignant disease not under adequate control

  • use of immunomodulators within 30 days prior to screening

  • use of any prohibited medications

  • current alcohol or illicit substance use that might adversely affect study participation

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
600 milligram (mg) EfavirenzEfavirenz 600mgEligible patients will be centrally randomised to receive tenofovir (TDF) (300mg qd)/emtricitabine (FTC) (200mg qd) + EFV (600mg qd; 3 x 200mg qd)
400mg EfavirenzEfavirenz 400mgEligible patients will be centrally randomised to receive TDF (300mg qd)/FTC (200mg qd) + EFV (400mg qd; 2 x 200mg + 1 x 200mg placebo qd).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Percentage of Participants With Plasma HIV-1 RNA <200 Copies/mL 48 Weeks After Randomisation48 weeks

Percentage of participants in each of the treatment arms with centrally quantified plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load \<200 copies/mL 48 weeks after randomisation.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change From Baseline in Fasted Insulin LevelsBaseline and 2 years

Change from baseline to week 96 in fasted insulin levels

Percentage of Participants With Plasma HIV-1 RNA <400 Copies/mL and <50 Copies/mL at 48 and 96 Weeks After RandomisationBaseline and 2 years

Percentage of participants in each of the two treatment arms with plasma HIV-1 RNA \<400 copies/mL and \<50 copies/mL at 48 and 96 weeks after randomisation

Mean Change From Baseline in CD4+ T-cell CountBaseline and 2 years

Mean change from baseline to week 96 in CD4+ T-cell count/mm3 between the two treatment arms

Clinical Endpoints: Opportunistic Disease or Death, and Serious Non-AIDS-defining Events and Non-AIDS-related Mortalityup to 2 years

Number of participants in each randomised arm diagnosed with a serious non-AIDS defining event, who die from an AIDS-defining event, who die from a non-AIDS-defining event

Change From Baseline in Metabolic EndpointsBaseline and 2 years

Change from baseline to week 96 in fasted total cholesterol, high density cholesterol and low density cholesterol, and glucose between randomised treatment arms

Change in Selected Serum Biochemical ParametersBaseline and 2 years

Change from baseline to week 96 in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels between randomised treatment arms

Change From Baseline in Estimate Creatinine ClearanceBaseline and 2 years

Change from baseline to week 96 in estimate creatinine clearance between randomised treatment arms

Steady-state Efavirenz ConcentrationsWeek 4

Steady-state efavirenz mid-dosing interval plasma concentrations

Adherence: Median Scores of Self-reported Adherence to Randomised Study Medications2 years

AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 7-day adherence questionnaire scores. Maximum value is all pills taken every day; minimum value is no pills taken per day. Higher scores indicate a better outcome.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

St Vincent's Hospital

🇦🇺

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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