20 Feb SWORD Study Demonstrates Two-Drug Control of HIV
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Kati Vandermeulen
Kati Vandermeulen
Senior Director, Global Regulatory Leader and Compound Development Team Lead
IDV Janssen
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: SWORD is the first large trial program specifically conducted to look at the combination of dolutegravir and rilpivirine as a complete, two-drug antiretroviral regimen. Results of the two identical Phase III SWORD studies have been positive and demonstrate that the two-drug regimen of dolutegravir and rilpivirine is as effective, with comparable tolerability, to traditional three- or four-drug (integrase inhibitor-, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-, or boosted protease inhibitor-based) antiretroviral regimens for the maintenance treatment of HIV.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: The SWORD Phase III results represent an significant step forward in our understanding of how HIV can be managed. It is important to identify and provide treatment options that control the virus, combat the risk of resistance, and also improve the lives of patients through simplified dosing, reduced pill burden and side effects. For the first time, SWORD Phase III results provide compelling data to support a potential two-drug HIV regimen that, if approved, would offer people living with HIV who are virologically suppressed on current therapy, the option to switch to a fewer-drug, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-sparing treatment regimen.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: While controlling the HIV-virus is paramount, the focus of new antiretroviral therapy development today is on improving the lives of patients through reducing side effects, simplifying dosing regimens. As HIV is increasingly treated as a life-long condition, it is important we continue to research and develop further medicines to treat HIV more simply and to help all those living with HIV to achieve an undetectable viral load and improved quality of life.
Our ongoing research and development efforts today are focused on pursuing a shift in the way we treat HIV and the possibility of eradicating this devastating disease in the future. In addition to the two-drug regimen of dolutegravir/rilpivirine, we are also pursuing other novel drug combinations and long-acting formulations to meet the diverse needs of people living with HIV.
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Citation: CROI Conference
February 13–16, 2017 | Seattle, Washington
Abstract Number: 44LB
PHASE III SWORD 1&2: SWITCH TO DTG+RPV MAINTAINS VIROLOGIC SUPPRESSION THROUGH 48 WKS
Josep M. Llibre1, Chien-Ching Hung2, Cynthia Brinson3, Francesco Castelli4, Pierre-Marie Girard5, Lesley Kahl6, Elizabeth Blair7, Brian Wynn8, Kati Vandermeulen9, Michael Aboud10
1Univ Hosp Germans Trias, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain,2Natl Taiwan Univ Hosp, Taipei, Taiwan,3Central Texas Clinical Rsr, Austin, TX,4ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy,5Saint-Antoine Hosp, Paris, France,6ViiV Hlthcare, Brentford, Middlesex, UK,7ViiV Hlthcare, Rsr Triangle Park, NC, USA,8ViiV Hlthcare, Collegeville, PA, USA,9Janssen, Beerse, Belgium,10ViiV Hlthcare, Brentford, U
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Last Updated on February 20, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD