Clinical Evaluation of Adjusted Doses of Darunavir/Ritonavir With Rifampicin in HIV-infected Volunteers

A significant barrier to the use of better tolerated antiretrovirals in many low-to-middle income countries (LMIC), where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic, is a lack of evidence to support their use in patients with TB. Access to optimal protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimens for patients with and without TB is urgent. Switching rifampicin to rifabutin, a weak inducer that does not significantly reduce PI concentrations, is recommended in high income countries for patients on boosted PIs who develop TB. However, rifabutin is not available in most LMIC where TB is typically treated with fixed dose combination tablets.

We will enrol virologically suppressed participants on a second-line DRV/r regimen without TB. Based on data from a Physiologically-Based PK model, we selected two adjusted doses of DRV/r (1600/200 mg daily and 800/100 mg 12 hourly) with RIF for comparison to plasma exposures with DRV/r 800/100 mg daily without RIF, in a cross-over design.

Baseline DRV steady state PK will be determined and RIF added for 7 days, then the dose of ritonavir will be increased to 200 mg; 7 days later the dose of DRV will be increased; after another 7 days participants will be crossed over to the alternative adjusted DRV dose.

DRV will be measured in plasma samples after observed doses at baseline and after each dose adjustment. Non-compartmental analysis will be used to estimate the PK measures. Clinical adverse events, ALT, and bilirubin will be monitored every 2 to 3 days during treatment with RIF.