Switching to Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide in Black Americans With HIV-1: A Randomized Phase 3b, Multicenter, Open-Label Study
Recommended Citation
Hagins D, Kumar P, Saag M, Wurapa AK, Brar I, Berger D, Osiyemi O, Hileman CO, Ramgopal MN, McDonald C, Blair C, Andreatta K, Collins SE, Brainard DM, and Martin H. Switching to Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide in Black Americans With HIV-1: A Randomized Phase 3b, Multicenter, Open-Label Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 88(1):86-95.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2021
Publication Title
Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the United States, Black Americans are still underrepresented in HIV medical research.
SETTING: BRAAVE (NCT03631732) is a randomized, phase 3b, multicenter, open-label US study.
METHODS: Adults identifying as Black or African American and virologically suppressed on 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus third agent were randomized (2:1) to switch to open-label bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) once daily or stay on baseline regimen (SBR) for 24 weeks, after which SBR had delayed switch to B/F/TAF. Resistance to non-NRTIs, protease inhibitors, and/or NRTIs was permitted; integrase strand transfer inhibitor resistance was exclusionary. Primary endpoint was proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL at week 24 (snapshot algorithm; noninferiority margin of 6%).
RESULTS: Of 558 screened, 495 were randomized/treated (B/F/TAF n = 330; SBR n = 165). Overall, 32% were ciswomen, 2% transwomen, and 10% had an M184V/I mutation. At week 24, 0.6% on B/F/TAF vs 1.8% on SBR had HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL (difference -1.2%; 95% confidence interval -4.8% to 0.9%), demonstrating noninferiority of B/F/TAF vs SBR. Proportions with HIV-1 RNA/mL at week 24 were 96% B/F/TAF and 95% SBR and remained high at week 48. No participant had treatment-emergent resistance to study drug. Treatments were well tolerated. Study drug-related adverse events, mostly grade 1, occurred in 10% of participants on B/F/TAF through week 48 and led to discontinuation in 9 participants through week 48.
CONCLUSIONS: For Black Americans with HIV, switching to B/F/TAF was noninferior to continuing a variety of regimens, including those with pre-existing NRTI mutations.
PubMed ID
34397746
Volume
88
Issue
1
First Page
86
Last Page
95
