Darunavir/cobicistat once daily for the treatment of HIV. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kakuda, Thomas N; Crauwels, Herta; Opsomer, Magda; Tomaka, Frank; van de Casteele, Tom; Vanveggel, Simon; Iterbeke, Koen; de Smedt, Goedele
• Is Part Of: Expert review of anti-infective therapy. Volume 13:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 691
• Page End: 704
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Anti-infective agents -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.90461
• DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2015.1033400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-7210

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A current focus in HIV management is improving adherence by minimizing pill burden with convenient formulations, including fixed-dose combinations (FDCs). Darunavir, a HIV protease inhibitor, co-administered with low-dose ritonavir (800/100 mg once daily), is recommended in guidelines in combination with other antiretrovirals for HIV patients with no darunavir resistance-associated mutations. Cobicistat is an alternative agent to ritonavir for boosting plasma drug levels of darunavir among other antiretrovirals. Cobicistat is a more specific cytochrome P450 3A inhibitor than ritonavir without enzyme-inducing properties. This review describes the differing effects of cobicistat and ritonavir on metabolic enzymes, which explains their differing drug–drug interactions, and summarizes some of the studied drug–drug interactions for cobicistat. It also outlines the clinical development and data for a once-daily darunavir/cobicistat FDC. This FDC thus allows for a once-daily treatment regimen (including background antiretrovirals) with reduced pill burden.</p> </abstract>