Clinical considerations when switching antiretroviral therapy

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be personalized through simple formulations with high resistance barriers, favorable safety profiles, and novel administration routes. Switching treatments has become a key clinical strategy for addressing drug toxicity and interactions and enhancing adherence and convenience. This strategy aims to improve the quality of life and long-term efficacy, even in challenging cases like people living with HIV (PLWH) with multiple comorbidities, prior virological failure, and drug resistance.

The authors reviewed clinical trials and cohort studies providing evidence of benefits and risks of current antiretroviral (ARV) drugs as switching options for PLWH in various scenarios. The literature search included clinical trials, meta-analyses, observational studies, and review articles in English published after 2000, and current HIV treatment guidelines in English and Spanish as of February 2024.

New ARV drugs offer advantages in efficacy and safety over previous options but may also have adverse effects. Second-generation integrase inhibitors and tenofovir alafenamide show benefits as switching options in various scenarios, though more research is needed on potential weight gain and metabolic issues. Injectable long-acting ART is promising for switching strategies, but finding the optimal combination of new drugs remains challenging.