title: Abacavir and lamivudine fixed-dose combination tablet once daily compared with abacavir and lamivudine twice daily in HIV-infected patients over 48 weeks (ESS30008, SEAL).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abacavir (ABC) and lamivudine (3TC) administered twice daily were compared with an ABC + 3TC fixed-dose combination (Epzicom, Kivexa; EPZ) administered once daily, both in combination with a protease inhibitor (PI) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred sixty HIV-infected subjects with more than 6 months of ABC and 3TC administered twice daily plus a PI or NNRTI with an HIV-1 RNA level less than 400 copies/mL for more than 3 months and a CD4 count greater than 50 cells/mm were randomized 1:1 to ABC + 3TC administered twice daily or EPZ administered once daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, median time on ABC and 3TC administered twice daily was 22 months, and median CD4 count and HIV-1 RNA level were 554 cells/mm and <50 copies/mL, respectively. EPZ administered once daily was established as not inferior to ABC + 3TC administered twice daily based on the proportion of nonvirologic failures (confirmed HIV-1 RNA level > or =1265 copies/mL; 90% confidence interval: -3.4 to 6.4; (intent to treat [ITT]: missing [M] = failure [F]). Proportions with an HIV-1 RNA level <50 copies/mL were 81% of those taking EPZ once daily and 82% of those taking ABC + 3TC twice daily at week 48 (ITT: M = F). Virologic failure was rare (2 patients taking the once-daily regimen, 4 patients taking the twice-daily regimen). There was a low incidence of grade 2 through 4 adverse events (AEs) and no drug-related serious AEs or hypersensitivity reactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPZ administered once daily was established as not inferior to ABC + 3TC administered twice daily in a regimen containing an NNRTI or a PI over 48 weeks. A dual-nucleoside backbone of ABC and 3TC administered once or twice daily is effective, durable, and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Social Security Hospital, Panama City, Panama.
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill-Zabala
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejesus
authors.forename: Gisella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Florance
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vavro
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaefer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D019562:Viral Load; D000099227:Abacavir
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D000099227:Abacavir