Efficacy, safety, bone and metabolic effects of HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor BMS-986001 (AI467003): a phase 2b randomised, controlled, partly blinded trial.

BACKGROUND: BMS-986001 is a thymidine analogue nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) designed to maintain in-vitro antiviral activity while minimising off-target effects. We assessed the efficacy and safety of BMS-986001 versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in treatment-naive patients with HIV-1. METHODS: In this phase 2b, randomised, active-controlled trial (AI467003), we recruited treatment-naive (no current or previous exposure to an antiretroviral drug for >1 week) adults (aged at least 18 years) with HIV-1 from 47 sites across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South Africa, and South America. Patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA greater than 5000 copies per mL and CD4 counts greater than 200 cells per µL were randomly assigned (2:2:2:3) to receive BMS-986001 100 mg, 200 mg, or 400 mg once a day or to receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg once a day; each allocation was given with efavirenz 600 mg once a day and lamivudine 300 mg once a day. Both patients and investigators were masked to BMS-986001 dose (achieved with similar looking placebo tablets), but not allocation up to and including week 48. The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL and safety events (serious adverse events and adverse events leading to discontinuation) through week 24; the main analysis was with a modified intention-to-treat population. Resistance analysis was a secondary endpoint, and additional safety parameters were exploratory endpoints. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01489046, and the European Clinical Trials Database, number EudraCT 2011-003329-89. FINDINGS: Patients were recruited between Jan 25, 2012, and Oct 3, 2012; 757 patients were assessed for eligibility and 301 were randomly assigned to receive either BMS-986001 once a day (67 patients to 100 mg, 67 to 200 mg, and 66 to 400 mg) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (n=101). 297 patients received at least one dose of study drug. At week 24, 57 (88%) of 65 patients for whom there were data in the 100 mg group, 54 (81%) of 67 in the 200 mg group, 62 (94%) of 66 in the 400 mg group achieved HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL, compared with 88 (89%) of 99 in the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate group (modified intention-to-treat population). BMS-986001 was generally well tolerated through week 48. Two patients had BMS-986001-related serious adverse events (atypical drug eruption and thrombocytopenia) and two in the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate group had study drug-related serious adverse events (potential drug-induced liver injury and depression or lipodystrophy) that led to discontinuation. NRTI resistance-associated mutations were reported in four (2%) of 198 patients, and non-NRTI mutations in 17 (9%) of 198 patients receiving BMS-986001 versus none of 99 and one (1%) of 99 patients receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, respectively. Compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, individuals in the BMS-986001 groups showed a smaller decrease in lumbar spine and hip bone mineral density but greater accumulation of limb and trunk fat, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, and increased total cholesterol. INTERPRETATION: BMS-986001 had similar efficacy to that of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and was associated with a smaller decrease in bone mineral density; however, greater resistance and gains in both peripheral and central fat accumulation were recorded for the investigational drug. Bristol-Myers Squibb has discontinued its involvement in the development of BMS-986001, and future decisions on development will be made by Oncolys BioPharma. FUNDING: Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of rilpivirine (RPV, TMC278) in HIV type 1-infected antiretroviral-naive patients: week 192 results from a phase IIb randomized trial.

TMC278-C204 (NCT00110305), a 96-week trial of the nonnucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor (NNRTI) rilpivirine (RPV, TMC278) in 368 HIV-1-infected, treatment-naive patients, was extended to investigate long-term safety and efficacy. Week 192 analysis results are presented. This was a long-term follow-up of a Phase IIb, randomized trial. No significant RPV dose-response relationships with respect to the primary endpoint (composite ITT-TLOVR algorithm) were observed at week 48 or 96. All RPV-treated patients were switched to open-label 75 mg qd at week 96 and then to 25 mg qd, the Phase III dose, at approximately week 144 as it gave the best benefit-risk balance. All control patients continued receiving open-label efavirenz (EFV) 600 mg qd. At week 192, 59% of RPV- and 61% of EFV-treated patients maintained confirmed viral load <50 copies/ml (ITT-TLOVR algorithm). The mean changes from baseline in CD4 cell count were similar in both groups (RPV: 210 cells/mm(3) vs. EFV: 225 cells/mm(3)). No new safety concerns were noted between week 48 and 192. In the week 192 analysis, RPV compared with EFV was associated with a lower overall incidence of grade 2-4 adverse events (AEs) at least possibly related to treatment, including rash (p<0.001) and neurologic AEs (p<0.05 Fisher's exact test, post hoc analyses) Incidences of serious AEs, grade 3 or 4 AEs, and discontinuations due to AEs were similar across groups. Increases in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly lower with RPV than with EFV. RPV continued to show sustained efficacy similar to EFV at week 192 with a generally more favorable safety profile.

Efficacy and safety of TMC278 in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1 patients: week 96 results of a phase IIb randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: TMC278 is a next-generation nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor highly active against wild-type and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-resistant HIV-1 in vitro. The week 96 analysis of TMC278-C204, a large dose-ranging study of TMC278 in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected patients, is presented. DESIGN: Phase IIb randomized trial. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-eight patients were randomized and treated with three blinded once-daily TMC278 doses 25, 75 or 150 mg, or an open-label, active control, efavirenz 600 mg once daily, all with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The primary analysis was at week 48. RESULTS: No TMC278 dose-response relationship for efficacy and safety was observed. TMC278 demonstrated potent antiviral efficacy comparable with efavirenz over 48 weeks that was sustained to week 96 (76.9-80.0% and 71.4-76.3% of TMC278-treated patients with confirmed viral load <50 copies/ml, respectively; time-to-loss of virological-response algorithm). Median increases from baseline in CD4 cell count with TMC278 at week 96 (138.0-149.0 cells/microl) were higher than at week 48 (108.0-123.0 cells/microl). All TMC278 doses were well tolerated. The incidences of the most commonly reported grade 2-4 adverse events at least possibly related to study medication, including nausea, dizziness, abnormal dreams/nightmare, dyspepsia, asthenia, rash, somnolence and vertigo, were low and lower with TMC278 than with efavirenz. Incidences of serious adverse events, grade 3 or 4 adverse events and discontinuations due to adverse events were similar among groups. CONCLUSION: All TMC278 doses demonstrated potent and sustained efficacy comparable with efavirenz in treatment-naive patients over 96 weeks. TMC278 was well tolerated with lower incidences of neurological and psychiatric adverse events, rash and lower lipid elevations than those with efavirenz. TMC278 25 mg once daily was selected for further clinical development.