An open-label safety study of enfuvirtide injection with a needle-free injection device or needle/syringe: the Biojector 2000 Open-label Safety Study (BOSS).
Enfuvirtide (ENF) administration by needle/syringe is commonly associated with injection site reactions (ISRs). This study assessed ISRs and participant preference between a needle-free injection device (NFID) and a 27-gauge 1/2-inch needle/syringe (NS). A total of 349 participants with human immunodeficiency virus infection, who had difficulty tolerating long-term administration of ENF by NS, underwent randomization (2:1) to ENF administered twice daily by NFID for 8 weeks, or by NS for 4 weeks followed by NFID for 4 weeks. The objectives of the study were to compare ISRs associated with ENF injection using NFID or NS based on a composite endpoint, ISR incidence/severity, overall ISR scores, and discontinuations. In the NFID group, ISRs improved as the percentage of participants meeting the composite endpoint decreased from baseline (40.1%) to week 4 (25.4%) and remained stable at week 8 (21.2%). In the NS --> NFID group, the percentage meeting the composite endpoint worsened from baseline (36.5%) to week 4 (45.1%), but improved at week 8 (26.1%) after switching. Between-participant comparison showed a statistically significant greater improvement from baseline to week 4 in overall ISR score in the NFID group compared to the NS group. Within-participant comparison of the NS --> NFID group showed a significantly greater decrease in overall ISR score from baseline to week 8. In responses to a questionnaire, 87.2% of the participants surveyed preferred the NFID delivery system over NS. NFID is an alternative injection method that may reduce the incidence and severity of treatment-limiting ISRs associated with ENF administration.
Quest Clinical Research, Mount Zion Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94115, USA. drjay@questclinical.com
Jacob P
JP
Lalezari
Michael
M
Saag
Charles
C
Walworth
Peter
P
Larson
D000328:Adult; D000077560:Enfuvirtide; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D007277:Injections, Jet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000077560:Enfuvirtide