title: Once-daily raltegravir moving ahead.
abstract: Raltegravir is a highly potent antiretroviral agent, with arguably one of the most favorable adverse event profiles in the HIV armamentarium. However, its standard twice-daily (BID) dosing schedule makes it less convenient than once-daily (QD) options. Although pharmacokinetic data suggest that QD raltegravir may provide adequate drug levels, the randomized phase III QDMRK trial (Eron, et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011;11:907-15) showed that 800 mg QD raltegravir failed to meet the criteria for non-inferiority when compared with 400 mg BID RAL in antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected individuals. 83% of patients in the QD arm achieved undetectable HIV viremia, in comparison with 89% in the BID arm. This was largely due to poorer efficacy among people with high baseline viral load (74 vs. 84%, respectively).
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Jose Vicente
authors: JV
authors: Fernández-Montero
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D000068898:Raltegravir Potassium; D014766:Viremia
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000068898:Raltegravir Potassium