ViiV Healthcare’s PASO DOBLE study found that the 2-drug regimen Dovato (DTG/3TC) is as effective as the 3-drug regimen Biktarvy (BIC/FTC/TAF) in maintaining viral suppression in HIV-positive individuals. The study included 553 participants who switched to either DTG/3TC or BIC/FTC/TAF. After 48 weeks, the proportion of participants with viral load above 50 copies/mL was similar in both groups.
Importantly, DTG/3TC resulted in significantly lower weight gain compared to BIC/FTC/TAF. The average weight increase in the DTG/3TC group was 0.89kg, while the average increase in the BIC/FTC/TAF group was 1.81kg. This difference may be significant for individuals concerned about treatment-related weight gain. The weight gain with DTG/3TC did not differ based on gender or previous regimen, but the risk of gaining more than 5% weight with BIC/FTC/TAF was notably higher when switching from a regimen with abacavir.
These findings highlight the potential benefits of switching to DTG/3TC for virologically suppressed HIV-positive individuals seeking treatment optimization. Dovato’s non-inferior efficacy and lower weight gain profile compared to Biktarvy provide valuable options for improving the quality of life for people living with HIV.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
