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Wilkins CA, Hamman H, Hamman JH, Steenekamp JH. Fixed-Dose Combination Formulations in Solid Oral Drug Therapy: Advantages, Limitations, and Design Features. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:178. [PMID: 38399239 PMCID: PMC10892518 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Whilst monotherapy is traditionally the preferred treatment starting point for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, other diseases require the use of multiple drugs (polytherapy) from the onset of treatment (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, and malaria). Successful treatment of these chronic conditions is sometimes hampered by patient non-adherence to polytherapy. The options available for polytherapy are either the sequential addition of individual drug products to deliver an effective multi-drug regimen or the use of a single fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy product. This article intends to critically review the use of FDC drug therapy and provide an insight into FDC products which are already commercially available. Shortcomings of FDC formulations are discussed from multiple perspectives and research gaps are identified. Moreover, an overview of fundamental formulation considerations is provided to aid formulation scientists in the design and development of new FDC products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jan H. Steenekamp
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacen™), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.A.W.); (H.H.); (J.H.H.)
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Garcia-Beltran C, Malpique R, Andersen MS, Bas F, Bassols J, Darendeliler F, Díaz M, Dieris B, Fanelli F, Fröhlich-Reiterer E, Gambineri A, Glintborg D, López-Bermejo A, Mann C, Marin S, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Ødegård R, Ravn P, Reinehr T, Renzulli M, Salvador C, Singer V, Vanky E, Torres JV, Yildiz M, de Zegher F, Ibáñez L. SPIOMET4HEALTH-efficacy, tolerability and safety of lifestyle intervention plus a fixed dose combination of spironolactone, pioglitazone and metformin (SPIOMET) for adolescent girls and young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-arm, parallel-group, phase II clinical trial. Trials 2023; 24:589. [PMID: 37715279 PMCID: PMC10503102 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07593-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent, chronic endocrine-metabolic disorder of adolescents and young women (AYAs), affecting 5-10% of AYAs worldwide. There is no approved pharmacological therapy for PCOS. Standard off-label treatment with oral contraceptives (OCs) reverts neither the underlying pathophysiology nor the associated co-morbidities. Pilot studies have generated new insights into the pathogenesis of PCOS, leading to the development of a new treatment consisting of a fixed, low-dose combination of two so-called insulin sensitisers [pioglitazone (PIO), metformin (MET)] and one mixed anti-androgen and anti-mineralocorticoid also acting as an activator of brown adipose tissue [spironolactone (SPI)], within a single tablet (SPIOMET). The present trial will evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of SPIOMET, on top of lifestyle measures, for the treatment of PCOS in AYAs. METHODS In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-arm, parallel-group, phase II clinical trial, AYAs with PCOS will be recruited from 7 clinical centres across Europe. Intention is to randomise a total of 364 eligible patients into four arms (1:1:1:1): Placebo, PIO, SPI + PIO (SPIO) and SPI + PIO + MET (SPIOMET). Active treatment over 12 months will consist of lifestyle guidance plus the ingestion of one tablet daily (at dinner time); post-treatment follow-up will span 6 months. Primary endpoint is on- and post-treatment ovulation rate. Secondary endpoints are clinical features (hirsutism, menstrual regularity); endocrine-metabolic variables (androgens, lipids, insulin, inflammatory markers); epigenetic markers; imaging data (carotid intima-media thickness, body composition, abdominal fat partitioning, hepatic fat); safety profile; adherence, tolerability and acceptability of the medication; and quality of life in the study participants. Superiority (in this order) of SPIOMET, SPIO and PIO will be tested over placebo, and if present, subsequently the superiority of SPIOMET versus PIO, and if still present, finally versus SPIO. DISCUSSION The present study will be the first to evaluate-in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled way-the efficacy, tolerability and safety of SPIOMET treatment for early PCOS, on top of a lifestyle intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT 2021-003177-58. Registered on 22 December 2021. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=%092021-003177-58 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Garcia-Beltran
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Paediatric Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Rita Malpique
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Paediatric Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Marianne S Andersen
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Department of Endocrinology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Firdevs Bas
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Judit Bassols
- Maternal-Fetal Metabolic Research Group, Girona Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | | | - Marta Díaz
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Paediatric Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Barbara Dieris
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition Medicine, Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents Datteln, University of Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
| | - Flaminia Fanelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science-DIMEC, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, University of Bologna - S. Orsola-Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elke Fröhlich-Reiterer
- Division of General Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Alessandra Gambineri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science-DIMEC, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, University of Bologna - S. Orsola-Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dorte Glintborg
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Department of Endocrinology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Abel López-Bermejo
- Paediatric Endocrinology Research Group, Girona Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBGI), Paediatrics, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | | | - Silvia Marin
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Paediatric Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Rønnaug Ødegård
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Centre for Obesity Research, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Torgarden, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Pernille Ravn
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Department of Endocrinology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Thomas Reinehr
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition Medicine, Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents Datteln, University of Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
| | - Matteo Renzulli
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristina Salvador
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Paediatric Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Viola Singer
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition Medicine, Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents Datteln, University of Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
| | - Eszter Vanky
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, 7006, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Melek Yildiz
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Francis de Zegher
- Leuven Research & Development, University of Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Lourdes Ibáñez
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Paediatric Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain.
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Keene CM, Ragunathan A, Euvrard J, English M, McKnight J, Orrell C. Measuring patient engagement with HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping study. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e26025. [PMID: 36285618 PMCID: PMC9597383 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Engagement with HIV care is a multi-dimensional, dynamic process, critical to maintaining successful treatment outcomes. However, measures of engagement are not standardized nor comprehensive. This undermines our understanding of the scope of challenges with engagement and whether interventions have an impact, complicating patient and programme-level decision-making. This study identified and characterized measures of engagement to support more consistent and comprehensive evaluation. METHODS We conducted a scoping study to systematically categorize measures the health system could use to evaluate engagement with HIV care for those on antiretroviral treatment. Key terms were used to search literature databases (Embase, PsychINFO, Ovid Global-Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and the World Health Organization Index Medicus), Google Scholar and stakeholder-identified manuscripts, ultimately including English evidence published from sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2021. Measures were extracted, organized, then reviewed with key stakeholders. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We screened 14,885 titles/abstracts, included 118 full-texts and identified 110 measures of engagement, categorized into three engagement dimensions ("retention," "adherence" and "active self-management"), a combination category ("multi-dimensional engagement") and "treatment outcomes" category (e.g. viral load as an end-result reflecting that engagement occurred). Retention reflected status in care, continuity of attendance and visit timing. Adherence was assessed by a variety of measures categorized into primary (prescription not filled) and secondary measures (medication not taken as directed). Active self-management reflected involvement in care and self-management. Three overarching use cases were identified: research to make recommendations, routine monitoring for quality improvement and strategic decision-making and assessment of individual patients. CONCLUSIONS Heterogeneity in conceptualizing engagement with HIV care is reflected by the broad range of measures identified and the lack of consensus on "gold-standard" indicators. This review organized metrics into five categories based on the dimensions of engagement; further work could identify a standardized, minimum set of measures useful for comprehensive evaluation of engagement for different use cases. In the interim, measurement of engagement could be advanced through the assessment of multiple categories for a more thorough evaluation, conducting sensitivity analyses with commonly used measures for more comparable outputs and using longitudinal measures to evaluate engagement patterns. This could improve research, programme evaluation and nuanced assessment of individual patient engagement in HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M. Keene
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Ayesha Ragunathan
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Euvrard
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Mike English
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jacob McKnight
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Catherine Orrell
- Department of MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Keene CM, Ragunathan A, Euvrard J, English M, McKnight J, Orrell C. Measuring patient engagement with HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping study. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e26025. [PMID: 36285618 PMCID: PMC9597383 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26025/full|10.1002/jia2.26025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Engagement with HIV care is a multi-dimensional, dynamic process, critical to maintaining successful treatment outcomes. However, measures of engagement are not standardized nor comprehensive. This undermines our understanding of the scope of challenges with engagement and whether interventions have an impact, complicating patient and programme-level decision-making. This study identified and characterized measures of engagement to support more consistent and comprehensive evaluation. METHODS We conducted a scoping study to systematically categorize measures the health system could use to evaluate engagement with HIV care for those on antiretroviral treatment. Key terms were used to search literature databases (Embase, PsychINFO, Ovid Global-Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and the World Health Organization Index Medicus), Google Scholar and stakeholder-identified manuscripts, ultimately including English evidence published from sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2021. Measures were extracted, organized, then reviewed with key stakeholders. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We screened 14,885 titles/abstracts, included 118 full-texts and identified 110 measures of engagement, categorized into three engagement dimensions ("retention," "adherence" and "active self-management"), a combination category ("multi-dimensional engagement") and "treatment outcomes" category (e.g. viral load as an end-result reflecting that engagement occurred). Retention reflected status in care, continuity of attendance and visit timing. Adherence was assessed by a variety of measures categorized into primary (prescription not filled) and secondary measures (medication not taken as directed). Active self-management reflected involvement in care and self-management. Three overarching use cases were identified: research to make recommendations, routine monitoring for quality improvement and strategic decision-making and assessment of individual patients. CONCLUSIONS Heterogeneity in conceptualizing engagement with HIV care is reflected by the broad range of measures identified and the lack of consensus on "gold-standard" indicators. This review organized metrics into five categories based on the dimensions of engagement; further work could identify a standardized, minimum set of measures useful for comprehensive evaluation of engagement for different use cases. In the interim, measurement of engagement could be advanced through the assessment of multiple categories for a more thorough evaluation, conducting sensitivity analyses with commonly used measures for more comparable outputs and using longitudinal measures to evaluate engagement patterns. This could improve research, programme evaluation and nuanced assessment of individual patient engagement in HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M. Keene
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Ayesha Ragunathan
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Euvrard
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Mike English
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jacob McKnight
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Catherine Orrell
- Department of MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Shakil A, Hern FY, Liu C, Temburnikar K, Chambon P, Liptrott N, McDonald TO, Neary M, Owen A, Freel Meyers C, Rannard SP. Linear and branched polymer prodrugs of the water-soluble nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor emtricitabine as structural materials for long-acting implants. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:4395-4404. [PMID: 35604111 PMCID: PMC9199480 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb00825d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Long-acting drug delivery is a growing area of interest as it overcomes many challenges related to patient adherence to therapy and the pill burden associated with chronic illness. Injectable formulations are becoming more common and drug-releasing implants also provide several opportunities. Highly water soluble drug compounds are poor candidates for long-acting delivery. Here, the water-soluble nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor emtricitabine (FTC) has been used as a novel A-B monomer in step-growth polymerisation with chloroformate functional Cn monomers, to produce new poly(carbamate/carbonate) structures with varying architecture. The polymer prodrugs were all solid at ambient temperature and have been shown to release FTC when subjected to mixed gender human plasma. Vacuum compression moulding has been used to form solid rod implants without polymer degradation; the rods show FTC release over long periods in the presence of microsomes, establishing the basis of a polymer prodrug strategy for FTC delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Shakil
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Faye Y Hern
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Chung Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Kartik Temburnikar
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Pierre Chambon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Neill Liptrott
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Tom O McDonald
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Megan Neary
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Andrew Owen
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
| | - Caren Freel Meyers
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Steve P Rannard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
- Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZD, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 3NY, UK
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Bor J, Kluberg SA, LaValley MP, Evans D, Hirasen K, Maskew M, Long L, Fox MP. One Pill, Once a Day: Simplified Treatment Regimens and Retention in HIV Care. Am J Epidemiol 2022; 191:999-1008. [PMID: 35081613 PMCID: PMC9989337 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwac006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simplified drug regimens may improve retention in care for persons with chronic diseases. In April 2013, South Africa adopted a once-daily single-pill human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment regimen as the standard of care, replacing a multiple-pill regimen. Because the regimens had similar biological efficacy, the shift to single-pill therapy offered a real-world test of the impact of simplified drug-delivery mechanisms on patient behavior. Using a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design, we assessed retention in care among patients starting HIV treatment just before and just after the guideline change. The study included 4,484 patients starting treatment at a large public sector clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. The share of patients prescribed a single-pill regimen increased by over 40 percentage points between March and April 2013. Initiating treatment after the policy change was associated with 11.7-percentage-points' higher retention at 12 months (95% confidence interval: -2.2, 29.4). Findings were robust to different measures of retention, different bandwidths, and different statistical models. Patients starting treatment early in HIV infection-a key population in the test-and-treat era-experienced the greatest improvements in retention from single-pill regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bor
- Correspondence to Dr. Jacob Bor, Departments of Global Health and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 (e-mail: )
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Gumede SB, Venter F, de Wit J, Wensing A, Lalla-Edward ST. Antiretroviral therapy uptake and predictors of virological failure in patients with HIV receiving first-line and second-line regimens in Johannesburg, South Africa: a retrospective cohort data analysis. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e054019. [PMID: 35428623 PMCID: PMC9013990 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study described the demographics, treatment information and identified characteristics associated with virological failure and being lost to follow-up (LTFU) for patients with HIV on first-line and second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens in a large South African cohort. DESIGN A quantitative retrospective cohort study using secondary data analysis. SETTING Seven Johannesburg inner city facilities. PARTICIPANTS Unique records of 123 002 people with HIV receiving ART at any point in the period 1 April 2004 to 29 February 2020 were included. MEASURES Demographic characteristics, ART status, CD4 count information and retention status were collected and analysed as covariates of outcomes (viral load (VL) and LTFU). RESULTS Of the total study patients, 95% (n=1 17 260) were on a first-line regimen and 5% (n=5742) were on a second-line regimen. Almost two-thirds were female (64%, n=79 226). Most patients (60%, n=72 430) were initiated on an efavirenz-based, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based and emtricitabine-based regimen (fixed-dose combination). 91% (n=76 737) achieved viral suppression at least once since initiating on ART and 60% (n=57 981) remained in care as at the end of February 2020. Patients from the community health centre and primary healthcare clinics were not only more likely to be virally suppressed but also more likely to be LTFU. Patients on second-line regimens were less likely to reach viral suppression (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.26, CI=0.23 to 0.28) and more likely to be LTFU (aOR=1.21, CI=1.09 to 1.35). Being older (≥25 years) and having a recent CD4 cell count≥100 cells/µL were predictors of viral suppression and retention in patients on ART. CONCLUSION Patients on first-line regimens had higher VL suppression rates and were more likely to remain in care than those on a second-line regimen. Being younger and having low CD4 cell counts were associated with poor outcomes, suggesting priority groups for ART adherence support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siphamandla Bonga Gumede
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Francois Venter
- Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - John de Wit
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Wensing
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Nardell MF, Adeoti O, Peters C, Kakuhikire B, Govathson-Mandimika C, Long L, Pascoe S, Tsai AC, Katz IT. Men missing from the HIV care continuum in sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e25889. [PMID: 35324089 PMCID: PMC8944222 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Men are missing along the HIV care continuum. However, the estimated proportions of men in sub-Saharan Africa meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals vary substantially between studies. We sought to estimate proportions of men meeting each of the 95-95-95 goals across studies in sub-Saharan Africa, describe heterogeneity, and summarize qualitative evidence on factors influencing care engagement. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed and Embase for peer-reviewed articles published between 1 January 2014 and 16 October 2020. We included studies involving men ≥15 years old, with data from 2009 onward, reporting on at least one 95-95-95 goal in sub-Saharan Africa. We estimated pooled proportions of men meeting these goals using DerSimonion-Laird random effects models, stratifying by study population (e.g. studies focusing exclusively on men who have sex with men vs. studies that did not), facility setting (healthcare vs. community site), region (eastern/southern Africa vs. western/central Africa), outcome measurement (e.g. threshold for viral load suppression), median year of data collection (before vs. during or after 2017) and quality criteria. Data from qualitative studies exploring barriers to men's HIV care engagement were summarized using meta-synthesis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We screened 14,896 studies and included 129 studies in the meta-analysis, compiling data over the data collection period. Forty-seven studies reported data on knowledge of serostatus, 43 studies reported on antiretroviral therapy use and 74 studies reported on viral suppression. Approximately half of men with HIV reported not knowing their status (0.49 [95% CI, 0.41-0.58; range, 0.09-0.97]) or not being on treatment (0.58 [95% CI, 0.51-0.65; range, 0.07-0.97]), while over three-quarters of men achieved viral suppression on treatment (0.79 [95% CI, 0.77-0.81; range, 0.39-0.97]. Heterogeneity was high, with variation in estimates across study populations, settings and outcomes. The meta-synthesis of 40 studies identified three primary domains in which men described risks associated with engagement in HIV care: perceived social norms, health system challenges and poverty. CONCLUSIONS Psychosocial and systems-level interventions that change men's perceptions of social norms, improve trust in and accessibility of the health system, and address costs of accessing care are needed to better engage men, especially in HIV testing and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F Nardell
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Oluwatomi Adeoti
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carson Peters
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Bernard Kakuhikire
- Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Caroline Govathson-Mandimika
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lawrence Long
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sophie Pascoe
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Alexander C Tsai
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ingrid T Katz
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Global Health Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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9
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Gumede SB, de Wit JBF, Venter WDF, Lalla-Edward ST. Study protocol: Strengthening understanding of effective adherence strategies for first-line and second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in selected rural and urban communities in South Africa. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261107. [PMID: 34932588 PMCID: PMC8691643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple factors make adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) a complex process. This study aims to describe the barriers and facilitators to adherence for patients receiving first-line and second-line ART, identify different adherence strategies utilized and make recommendations for an improved adherence strategy. This mixed method parallel convergent study will be conducted in seven high volume public health facilities in Gauteng and one in Limpopo province in South Africa. The study consists of four phases; a retrospective secondary data analysis of a large cohort of patients on ART (using TIER.Net, an ART patient and data management system for recording and monitoring patients on ART and tuberculosis (TB)) from seven Johannesburg inner-city public health facilities (Gauteng province); a secondary data analysis of the Intensified Treatment Monitoring Accumulation (ITREMA) trial (a randomized control trial which ran from June 2015 to January 2019) conducted at the Ndlovu Medical Center (Limpopo province); in-depth interviews with people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) who are taking ART (in both urban and rural settings); and a systematic review of the impact of treatment adherence interventions for chronic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. Data will be collected on demographics, socio-economic status, treatment support, retention in care status, disclosure, stigma, clinical markers (CD4 count and viral load (VL)), self-reported adherence information, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors, community networks, and policy level factors. The systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting and Population, Interventions, Comparisons and Outcomes (PICO) criteria. Analyses will involve tests of association (Chi-square and t-test), thematic analysis (deductive and inductive approaches) and network meta-analysis. Using an integrated multilevel socio-ecological framework this study will describe the factors associated with adherence for PLHIV who are taking first-line or second-line ART. Implementing evidence-based adherence approaches, when taken up, will improve patient's overall health outcomes. Our study results will provide guidance regarding context-specific intervention strategies to improve ART adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siphamandla Bonga Gumede
- Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - John Benjamin Frank de Wit
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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10
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Mugglin C, Kläger D, Gueler A, Vanobberghen F, Rice B, Egger M. The HIV care cascade in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review of published criteria and definitions. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25761. [PMID: 34292649 PMCID: PMC8297382 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The HIV care cascade examines the attrition of people living with HIV from diagnosis to the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and suppression of viral replication. We reviewed the literature from sub-Saharan Africa to assess the definitions used for the different steps in the HIV care cascade. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase and CINAHL for articles published from January 2004 to December 2020. Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies were included if they reported on at least one step of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 cascade or two steps of an extended 7-step cascade. A step was clearly defined if authors reported definitions for numerator and denominator, including the description of the eligible population and methods of assessment or measurement. The review protocol has been published and registered in Prospero. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Overall, 3364 articles were screened, and 82 studies from 19 countries met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were from Southern (38 studies, 34 from South Africa) and East Africa (29 studies). Fifty-eight studies (71.6%) were longitudinal, with a median follow-up of three years. The medium number of steps covered out of 7 steps was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 2 to 4); the median year of publication was 2015 (IQR 2013 to 2019). The number of different definitions for the numerators ranged from four definitions (for step "People living with HIV") to 21 (step "Viral suppression"). For the denominators, it ranged from three definitions ("Diagnosed and aware of HIV status") to 14 ("Viral suppression"). Only 12 studies assessed all three of the 90-90-90 steps. Most studies used longitudinal data, but denominator-denominator or denominator-numerator linkages over several steps were rare. Also, cascade data are lacking for many countries. Our review covers the academic literature but did not consider other data, such as government reports on the HIV care cascade. Also, it did not examine disengagement and reengagement in care. CONCLUSIONS The proportions of patients retained at each step of the HIV care cascade cannot be compared between studies, countries and time periods, nor meta-analysed, due to the many different definitions used for numerators and denominators. There is a need for standardization of methods and definitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catrina Mugglin
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Delia Kläger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Aysel Gueler
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Fiona Vanobberghen
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population HealthLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteBaselSwitzerland
- University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Brian Rice
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population HealthLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research (CIDER)University of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Population Health SciencesBristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
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11
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Godman B, McCabe H, D Leong T. Fixed dose drug combinations - are they pharmacoeconomically sound? Findings and implications especially for lower- and middle-income countries. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2020; 20:1-26. [PMID: 32237953 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2020.1734456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: There are positive aspects regarding the prescribing of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) versus prescribing the medicines separately. However, these have to be balanced against concerns including increased costs and their irrationality in some cases. Consequently, there is a need to review their value among lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which have the greatest prevalence of both infectious and noninfectious diseases and issues of affordability.Areas covered: Review of potential advantages, disadvantages, cost-effectiveness, and availability of FDCs in high priority disease areas in LMICs and possible initiatives to enhance the prescribing of valued FDCs and limit their use where there are concerns with their value.Expert commentary: FDCs are valued across LMICs. Advantages include potentially improved response rates, reduced adverse reactions, increased adherence rates, and reduced costs. Concerns include increased chances of drug:drug interactions, reduced effectiveness, potential for imprecise diagnoses and higher unjustified prices. Overall certain FDCs including those for malaria, tuberculosis, and hypertension are valued and listed in the country's essential medicine lists, with initiatives needed to enhance their prescribing where currently low prescribing rates. Proposed initiatives include robust clinical and economic data to address the current paucity of pharmacoeconomic data. Irrational FDCs persists in some countries which are being addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Godman
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.,Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Holly McCabe
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Trudy D Leong
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
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12
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Furtado Dos Santos S, Almeida-Brasil CC, Costa JDO, Reis EA, Afonso Cruz M, Silveira MR, Ceccato MDGB. Does switching from multiple to single-tablet regimen containing the same antiretroviral drugs improve adherence? A group-based trajectory modeling analysis. AIDS Care 2020; 32:1268-1276. [PMID: 32148071 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1736258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) in single-tablet regimens (STR) is a simplification strategy that can potentially improve medication adherence and clinical outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1206 patients using efavirenz, tenofovir and lamivudine in multiple-tablet regimen who switched to the STR containing the same active ingredients in a southeast metropolis in Brazil. We measured adherence using the proportion of days covered (PDC≥95%) and evaluated this outcome before and after the switch using paired non-parametric statistics. Additionally, we used group-based trajectory modeling to identify adherence patterns to cART for each period and evaluate the migration behavior of patients between the trajectory groups. We observed a 14% increase in the proportion of adherent patients after switching to STR and a 6.2% increase in the proportion of patients with CD4 count>500 cells/μl (p < 0.001), without changes in viral load outcomes. We identified four adherence trajectories in each period. Most patients (60%, n = 722) migrated towards a group with better adherence trajectory or remained in the trajectory group with the highest probability of adherence after the switch. Our findings suggest that the implementation of the STR had a positive impact on adherence and CD4 count. This may potentially improve virologic outcomes later on treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Furtado Dos Santos
- Department of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Celline Cardoso Almeida-Brasil
- Department of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Juliana de Oliveira Costa
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Edna Afonso Reis
- Department of Statistics, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Márcio Afonso Cruz
- Graduation in Information Systems and Knowledge Management, Fundação Mineira de Educação e Cultura, Brazil
| | - Micheline Rosa Silveira
- Departamento de Farmácia Social - Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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13
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Dumitrescu TP, Peddiraju K, Fu C, Bakshi K, Yu S, Zhang Z, Tenorio AR, Spancake C, Joshi S, Wolstenholme A, Adkison K. Bioequivalence and Food Effect Assessment of 2 Fixed-Dose Combination Formulations of Dolutegravir and Lamivudine. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2019; 9:189-202. [PMID: 31724343 PMCID: PMC7028125 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This single‐dose study evaluated the bioequivalence, food effect, and safety of 2 experimental, 2‐drug, fixed‐dose formulations of 50 mg dolutegravir and 300 mg lamivudine (formulation AH and formulation AK) as compared with coadministration of single‐entity tablets of 50 mg dolutegravir and 300 mg lamivudine (reference). In fasted subjects, formulation AH lamivudine exposure was similar to the reference; however, dolutegravir exposure was consistently higher in formulation AH, with area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax) approximately 27% to 28% greater than reference. Formulation AK met bioequivalence standards to the reference for dolutegravir (AUC0‐∞ and Cmax) and lamivudine (AUC0‐∞ and AUC0‐t) exposure; however, dolutegravir AUC0‐t and lamivudine Cmax were approximately 16% and 32% higher than the reference, respectively. A high‐fat meal increased dolutegravir AUC and Cmax by up to 33% and 21%, respectively, and decreased lamivudine Cmax by approximately 30%. Both test and reference formulations were well tolerated. The results support further development of formulation AK as a novel, 2‐drug, fixed‐dose combination tablet treatment for patients with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Pene Dumitrescu
- Clinical Pharmacology Modeling and Simulation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Caifeng Fu
- PAREXEL International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kalpana Bakshi
- Pharma R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shui Yu
- PAREXEL International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Allan R Tenorio
- Clinical Development, ViiV Healthcare, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chris Spancake
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Kimberly Adkison
- Clinical Pharmacology, ViiV Healthcare, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Lippman SA, El Ayadi AM, Grignon JS, Puren A, Liegler T, Venter WDF, Ratlhagana MJ, Morris JL, Naidoo E, Agnew E, Barnhart S, Shade SB. Improvements in the South African HIV care cascade: findings on 90-90-90 targets from successive population-representative surveys in North West Province. J Int AIDS Soc 2019; 22:e25295. [PMID: 31190460 PMCID: PMC6562149 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To achieve epidemic control of HIV by 2030, countries aim to meet 90-90-90 targets to increase knowledge of HIV-positive status, initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral suppression by 2020. We assessed the progress towards these targets from 2014 to 2016 in South Africa as expanded treatment policies were introduced using population-representative surveys. METHODS Data were collected in January to March 2014 and August to November 2016 in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, North West Province. Each multi-stage cluster sample included 46 enumeration areas (EA), a target of 36 dwelling units (DU) per EA, and a single resident aged 18 to 49 per DU. Data collection included behavioural surveys, rapid HIV antibody testing and dried blood spot collection. We used weighted general linear regression to evaluate differences in the HIV care continuum over time. RESULTS Overall, 1044 and 971 participants enrolled in 2014 and 2016 respectively with approximately 77% undergoing HIV testing. Despite increases in reported testing, known status among people living with HIV (PLHIV) remained similar at 68.7% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 60.9-75.6) in 2014 and 72.8% (95% CI = 63.6-80.4) in 2016. Men were consistently less likely than women to know their status. Among those with known status, PLHIV on ART increased significantly from 80.9% (95% CI = 71.9-87.4) to 91.5% (95% CI = 84.4-95.5). Viral suppression (<5000 copies/mL using DBS) among those on ART increased significantly from 55.0% (95% CI = 39.6-70.4) in 2014 to 81.4% (95% CI = 72.0-90.8) in 2016. Among all PLHIV an estimated 72.0% (95% CI = 63.8-80.1) of women and 45.8% (95% CI = 27.0-64.7) of men achieved viral suppression by 2016. CONCLUSIONS Over a period during which fixed-dose combination was introduced, ART eligibility expanded, and efforts to streamline treatment were implemented, major improvements in the second and third 90-90-90 targets were achieved. Achieving the first 90 target will require targeted and improved testing models for men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri A Lippman
- Center for AIDS Prevention StudiesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Alison M El Ayadi
- Bixby Center for Global Reproductive HealthDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Jessica S Grignon
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I‐TECH) South AfricaPretoriaRepublic of South Africa
| | - Adrian Puren
- Centre for HIV and STIsNational Institute for Communicable Diseases/NHLSDivision of VirologySchool of PathologyUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Teri Liegler
- HIV/AIDS DivisionDepartment of MedicineHIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Health DivisionUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - W D Francois Venter
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI)Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Mary J Ratlhagana
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I‐TECH) South AfricaPretoriaRepublic of South Africa
| | - Jessica L Morris
- Center for AIDS Prevention StudiesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Evasen Naidoo
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I‐TECH) South AfricaPretoriaRepublic of South Africa
| | - Emily Agnew
- Center for AIDS Prevention StudiesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Scott Barnhart
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - Starley B Shade
- Center for AIDS Prevention StudiesDepartment of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Institute for Global Health ScienceDepartment of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
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15
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Mbengue MAS, Chasela C, Onoya D, Mboup S, Fox MP, Evans D. Clinical predictor score to identify patients at risk of poor viral load suppression at six months on antiretroviral therapy: results from a prospective cohort study in Johannesburg, South Africa. Clin Epidemiol 2019; 11:359-373. [PMID: 31191029 PMCID: PMC6511618 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s197741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: As countries work toward 90:90:90 targets, early identification of patients with inadequate response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical for achieving optimal HIV treatment outcomes. We developed and evaluated a clinical prediction score (CPS) to identify HIV-positive patients at risk of poor viral load suppression at 6 months on ART. Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of HIV-positive ART naïve adults (≥18 years) initiating standard first-line ART between February 2012 and April 2014 at Themba Lethu Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. We used Modified Poisson regression to estimate the association between patient characteristics and poor viral load suppression, defined as a viral load ≥400 copies/mL at 6 months on ART. We developed a CPS following the Spiegel Halter and Knill-Jones approach and determined the diagnostic accuracy compared to viral load as the "gold standard". We identified the optimal cutoff at which the CPS would identify those at risk of poor viral load suppression. Results: Among 353 patients, 67.7% had a viral load measurement at 6 months on ART and 30.1% of these were viremic (≥400 copies/mL). Male gender, platelet count <150 cells/mm3, ≥7 days late for ≥2 ARV visits, visual analog scale (VAS) <90% and <14.5 fL increase in mean cell volume from baseline to 6 months were included in the CPS. The optimal cutoff was 5 (≥5 vs <5; sensitivity [Se] 65.3%, specificity [Sp] 46.7%) and the CPS performed better than standard measures of adherence (eg, VAS Se 24.5%; Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire Se 26.5%). Conclusion: Our findings suggest a 6-month CPS may have the potential to identify patients at risk of poor viral load suppression. The CPS may be used to target patients who need intensive adherence support, with the caveat that there may be a three- to four-fold increase in the pool of patients identified for adherence counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouhamed Abdou Salam Mbengue
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Economics, IRESSEF: Institute of Health Research, Epidemiologic Surveillance and Training, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Charles Chasela
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Epidemiology and Strategic Information, HIV/AIDS, STIs & TB, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Dorina Onoya
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Souleymane Mboup
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Economics, IRESSEF: Institute of Health Research, Epidemiologic Surveillance and Training, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Matthew P Fox
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Denise Evans
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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