Effectiveness of Switching to Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide from Rilpivirine or Other...

Extensive real-world data in people with HIV (PWH) switching from non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), in particular from rilpivirine (RPV)-based regimens to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF), are lacking.

This is a single-center retrospective study. Inclusion criteria were PWH aged ≥ 18 years, virologically suppressed on NNRTI triple antiretroviral regimens. The primary endpoint was the proportion of PWH with HIV-RNA < 50 cp/mL at 12 months from time of switch to B/F/TAF.

Overall, 214 PWH were included, of whom 105 (49.1%) were switching from RPV/FTC/TAF. After 12 months, the proportion of PWH with HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL was 82.7% (95% confidence interval, CI, 77.1-87.2) at intention-to-treat (ITT) and 95.7% (95% CI 91.7-97.8) at missing=excluded (M=E) analysis. In the group switching from RPV/FTC/TAF, the proportion of PWH with HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL at 12 months was 74.3% (95% CI 65.2-81.7) at ITT and 95.1% (95% CI 88.1-98.1) at M=E analysis. Two PWH (0.93%, 95% CI 0.26-3.34) experienced virological failure after switching to B/F/TAF, with no resistance mutations detected. Six treatment discontinuations were observed (2.8%, 95% CI 1.3-5.6). A decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was documented when switching from RPV/FTC/TAF to B/F/TAF.

Switching to B/F/TAF from NNRTI-based regimens, particularly if RPV-based, showed high virological effectiveness and rare treatment discontinuations. No resistance mutations were detected at failure.