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Tenofovir alafenamide single-tablet regimen shows good efficacy with improved kidney and bone safety
Liz Highleyman, 2015-10-25 13:00:00
A single-tablet regimen containing the new tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) - to be marketed as Genvoya - suppressed HIV as well as a coformulation containing the older tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), according to a poster presented this week at the 15th European AIDS Conference in Barcelona. A related study found that people who switched from an atazanavir (Reyataz) regimen to the new combination had superior virological outcomes, and in both trials participants saw improvements in kidney and bone biomarkers.
Gilead Sciences' TAF is a new pro-drug formulation that delivers the active agent to HIV-infected cells more efficiently than the current TDF formulation (Viread, also in Truvada, Atripla, Eviplera and Stribild). TDF is generally safe and well-tolerated but it can cause a small amount of bone loss soon after starting therapy and can lead to kidney problems in susceptible people.
Presenter Bart Rijnders from Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam explained that TAF has a longer half-life, allowing more time for active tenofovir to enter CD4 T-cells. TAF therefore produces sufficient intracellular drug levels with a smaller dose, which means a lower concentration in the blood and less drug exposure for the kidneys, bones, and other organs and tissues.
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