An Open-Label, Multi-Centre, Randomised, Switch Study to Evaluate the Virological Efficacy Over 96 Weeks Of 2-Drug Therapy With DTG/RPV FDC in Antiretroviral Treatment-Experienced HIV-1 Infected Subjects Virologically Suppressed With NNRTIs Resistance Mutation K103N (WISARD)

HIV-1 infected subjects that experience virological failure while on non nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), including those with the K103N mutation, are usually switched to a boosted PI-based regimen or other antiretroviral (ARV) combinations. The same is true for subjects who need to start antiretroviral therapy and have acquired virus that is already resistant to antiretrovirals. These "second line" combinations are often associated with numerous issues that can have a potential impact on the quality of life (QoL) of these patients. Therefore a simpler and better tolerated alternative second line treatment option would be a useful tool for the clinical management of these patients.

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a dual combined therapy of Dolutegravir (DTG) 50 mg OD + Rilpivirine (RPV) 25 mg OD in virologically suppressed participants with previous virological failure with NNRTIs and having the clinically significant mutation K103N. The secondary objective of the study is to assess whether a simplification of the treatment in terms of pill burden, long term metabolic toxicity and potential for drug interactions improves the QOL of the participants. The study will also evaluate DTG & RPV concentrations in the blood plus changes in cell associated virus.

In order to compare the first line treatment (boosted PI and/or other antiretroviral combinations) and the DTG+RPV combination, two thirds of study participants will be switched to DTG+RPV immediately and receive DTG+RPV for 96 weeks. The other third will be switched after 48 weeks of continuing on their first line treatment and receive DTG+RPV for 48 weeks. All participants will then be followed up for a further 30 days. Participants will be recruited from sites across Europe, and randomised onto either arm of the study. After randomisation, participants will attend approximately 10 visits over the course of two years.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: HIV-1-infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Dolutegravir & Rilpivirine 2 drug fixed dose combined therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 140
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Antwerp, Belgium
    • Institute of Tropical Medecine
  • Brussels, Belgium
    • St Pierre University Hospital
• France
  • Nantes, France
    • CHU Hotel Dieu
  • Paris, France
    • Hospital Saint Louis
  • Paris, France
    • Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
• Germany
  • Bonn, Germany
    • University Bonn
  • Essen, Germany
    • University Essen
  • Frankfurt, Germany
    • Frankfurt University Hospital
  • Hamburg, Germany
    • ICH Study Center, Hamburg
• Italy
  • Brescia, Italy
    • AAST delgi spedali civili di Brescia
  • Milan, Italy
    • ASST FBF SACCO- I Division of Infectious Diseases 1
  • Milan, Italy
    • ASST FBF SACCO- I Division of Infectious Diseases 3
  • Milan, Italy
    • I.R.C.C.S San Raffaele Hospital
  • Milano, Italy
    • ASST GOM Niguarda Milano, Dep. Infectious Disease
• Spain
  • Alicante, Spain
    • Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
  • Barcelona, Spain
    • Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
  • Barcelona, Spain
    • Hospital Universitari Vall d'Herbo
  • Barcelona, Spain
    • Infectious Diseases Unit Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
  • Elche, Spain
    • Hospital General Universitario de Elche
  • Madrid, Spain
    • Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid
• United Kingdom
  • Brighton, United Kingdom
    • Brighton & Sussex University NHS Trust
  • Bristol, United Kingdom
    • North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital
  • London, United Kingdom
    • Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
  • London, United Kingdom
    • Kings College Hospital London
  • London, United Kingdom
    • Mortimer Market Centre
  • London, United Kingdom
    • Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • London, United Kingdom
    • Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
  • London, United Kingdom
    • St Marys Hospital
  • London, United Kingdom
    • The Royal London Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria

Patient volunteers who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for this trial:

1. Is male or female aged 18 years or over.
2. Has documented HIV-1 infection
3. Is capable of giving informed consent
4. Is willing to comply with the protocol requirements
5. Virologically suppressed (plasma HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL for >24 weeks) and on a stable regimen.
6. Subjects are required to have a history of the K103N mutation (acquired or selected). Subjects who at any time have had the mutations 100I, 101E/P, 106A/M, 138K/G/Q, 181C/I/V, 188L, 190A/S/E/Q, 230L mutations are to be excluded. Other NNRTI region variants can be included. All PI and NRTI mutations are acceptable. Study sites may ask the coordinating centre for advice as required.
7. Subjects must have never failed INSTI (2 x VL >200 >2 weeks apart) but current regimen can include INSTI.

8. A female, may be eligible to enter and participate in the study if she:

   a. is of non-child-bearing potential defined as either post-menopausal (12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea without an alternative medical cause and ≥ 45 years of age) A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level consistent with postmenopausal status may be used to confirm a post- menopausal state in women who are not using hormonal contraception) or hormonal replacement therapy at the discretion of the PI. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement alone is insufficient.

   OR physically incapable of becoming pregnant with documented tubal ligation, hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy or,

   OR is of child-bearing potential with a negative pregnancy test at Screening (& baseline visit) and agrees to use one of the following methods of contraception to avoid pregnancy:

   True abstinence from penile-vaginal intercourse from 2 weeks prior to administration of IP, throughout the study, and for at least 2 weeks after discontinuation of all study medications (When this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject.) (Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods), and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.

   Any intrauterine device (IUD) with published data showing that the expected failure rate is <1% per year (not all IUDs meet this criterion, see Appendix 3 for an example listing of approved IUDs).

   Male partner sterilization confirmed prior to the female subject's entry into the study, and this male is the sole partner for that subject;

   Approved hormonal contraception (see appendix 4 for a listing of examples of approved hormonal contraception);

   Any other method with published data showing that the expected failure rate is <1% per year.

   Any contraceptive method must be used consistently and for at least 2 weeks after discontinuation of IP

9. If a heterosexually active male, he is using effective birth control methods and is willing to continue practising these birth control methods during the trial and until follow-up visit
10. Subjects currently receiving DTG or RPV, but not both, can be included.

Exclusion criteria

Patients meeting 1 or more of the following criteria cannot be selected:

1. Infected with HIV-2
2. Detectable HIV-1 RNA at screening (HIV-1 RNA measurement >=50 c/mL).
3. Subjects requiring regular dosing doing with H2 or PPI antacid medications or a history of achlorhidria or drug known to interact with RPV or DTG.
4. Use of medications which are associated with Torsades de Pointes
5. Corrected QT interval (QTc [Bazett]) >450 milliseconds or QTc (Bazett) >480 milliseconds for participants with bundle branch block. The QTc is the QT interval corrected for heart rate according to Bazett's formula (QTcB).
6. Unstable health conditions (i.e. opportunistic infections, cancers, unstable liver disease etc).
7. Any evidence of an active Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category C disease. Exceptions include cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma not requiring systemic therapy and historic CD4+ lymphocyte counts of <200 cells/millimeter3.
8. History or presence of allergy to the study drugs or their components or drugs of their class;
9. Ongoing malignancy other than cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma, basal cell carcinoma, or resected, non-invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; other localized malignancies require agreement between the investigator and the Study medical monitor for inclusion of the subject prior to randomization;
10. Any pre-existing physical or mental condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may interfere with the subject's ability to comply with the dosing schedule and/or protocol evaluations or which may compromise the safety of the participants. Subjects considered to pose a significant risk of suicide should be excluded.
11. Any condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the study drugs or render the subject unable to take oral medication;

12. Using any concomitant therapy disallowed as per the reference safety information and product labelling for the study drugs. Specifically, co-administration with the following medicinal products is not allowed:

    • dofetilide or pilsicainide;
    • fampridine (also known as dalfampridine);
    • carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin;
    • rifampicin, rifapentine;
    • proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole; - systemic dexamethasone, except as a single dose treatment;
    • St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
13. Has acute viral hepatitis including, but not limited to, A, B, or C
14. Active hepatitis B/ Hep B non-immune subjects who have failed vaccination (antibody concentration < 10 international units). (If local practice does not include vaccination of low risk patients, then the patients without HBsAb are not excluded - this must be clearly documented in the medical records and eCRF). (Note: subjects can be re screened if they receive vaccination and subsequently meet eligibility criteria)
15. Evidence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection based on the results of testing at Screening for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) as follows: Participants positive for HBsAg are excluded; Participants positive for anti-HBc (negative HBsAg status) and negative for HBsAb are excluded. (if local practice does not include vaccination of low risk patients, then the patients without HBsAb are not excluded - this must be clearly documented in the medical records and eCRF. Note: Subject positive for anti-HBc (negative HBsAg status) and positive for HBsAb are immune to HBV and are not excluded.
16. Participants with an anticipated need for any Hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy during the Early Switch Phase and for interferon-based therapy for HCV throughout the entire study period.
17. Any investigational drug within 30 days prior to the trial drug administration
18. Any evidence of viral resistance different to the one described in the inclusion criteria i.e. not meeting inclusion criteria or having different mutation at K103.
19. Dialysis or renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 50ml/min)
20. History of decompensated liver disease (Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), OR ALT ≥3xULN and bilirubin ≥1.5xULN (with >35% direct bilirubin)
21. Unstable liver disease (as defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices, or persistent jaundice), cirrhosis, known biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones)
22. Subjects with severe hepatic impairment (Class C) as determined by Child-Pugh classification (see appendix 4)
23. Opportunistic infection within 4 weeks prior to first dose of DTG plus RPV.
24. Clinical decision that a switch of antiretroviral therapy should be immediate
25. Screening blood result with any grade 3/4 toxicity according to Division of AIDS (DAIDS) grading scale, except: asymptomatic grade 3 glucose, amylase or lipid elevation or asymptomatic grade 4 triglyceride elevation (re-test allowed). or unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia due to atanazavir exposure.
26. Any condition (including illicit drug use or alcohol abuse) or laboratory results which, in the investigator's opinion, interfere with assessments or completion of the trial.
27. Women planning pregnancy or who are pregnant or breast feeding. (NB: See section 6.12 Withdrawal Criteria for guidance if pregnancy does occur).

28. Females of childbearing potential and males must be willing to use a highly effective (acceptable effective contraceptive measures are only acceptable for IMP's with unlikely human teratogenicity / fetotoxicity in early pregnancy) method of contraception (hormonal method of birth control; true abstinence). Contraceptive methods that can achieve a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly are considered as highly effective birth control methods (see Appendix 4). Such methods include:

    • combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral intravaginal transdermal
    • progesteron-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation oral injectable implantable
    • Intrauterine device (IUD)
    • Intrauterine hormone-releasing system ( IUS)
    • bilateral tubal occlusion
    • vasectomized partner
    • true sexual abstinence

    (NB: See section 6.12 Withdrawal Criteria for guidance if pregnancy does occur).

29. Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed below: List of excipients Tablet core • Mannitol (E421) • Magnesium stearate • Microcrystalline cellulose • Povidone (K29/32) • Sodium starch glycolate • Sodium stearyl fumarate • Lactose monohydrate • Croscarmellose sodium • Povidone (K30) • Polysorbate 20 • Silicified microcrystalline cellulose Tablet coating • Polyvinyl alcohol- part hydrolysed • Titanium dioxide (E171) • Macrogol • Talc • Iron oxide yellow (E172) Iron oxide red (E172)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: DTG/RPV FDC Regimen; One combined Dolutegravir 50mg /Rilpivirine 25mg FDC tablet taken orally once daily	Drug: Dolutegravir & Rilpivirine 2 drug fixed dose combined therapy; Daily oral tablet; Other Names: Boosted protease inhibitors or other ARV regimen
Active Comparator: Continued ART Regimen; Patients will continue the current boosted PI regimen (or other antiretroviral combination) for 48 weeks. Patients will then be switched to one combined Dolutegravir/Rilpivirine FDC tablet taken orally once daily for 48 weeks.	Drug: Dolutegravir & Rilpivirine 2 drug fixed dose combined therapy; Daily oral tablet; Other Names: Boosted protease inhibitors or other ARV regimen

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Virological suppression	<50 copies/ml HIV RNA	48 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of participants with plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL	Plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL	week 24, 48 and 96
Changes in blood cell counts	blood cell count evaluation	until week 96
Changes in glucose levels	Glucose level evaluation	until week 96
Changes in electrolyte levels	Electrolyte level evaluation	until week 96
Changes in liver levels (bilirubin)	Liver level evaluation	until week 96
Changes in liver levels (ALT and AST)	Liver level evaluation	until week 96
Changes in liver levels (Urea)	Liver level evaluation	until week 96
Changes in liver levels (HsCRP)	Liver level evaluation	until week 96
Changes in renal markers (protein/creatinine ratio, albumin/creatinine ratio)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (urine protein, urine creatinine)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (blood creatinine)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (eGFR)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (blood albumin)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (urine albumin)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (Beta 2 Microglobulin)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (potassium)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (blood phosphate)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (urine glucose)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (urine phosphate)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in renal markers (creatinine phosphokinase)	Renal markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in bone markers (ALP)	Bone markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in bone markers (calcium)	Bone markers evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in fasting lipids from baseline (total cholesterol, triglycerides)	Fasting lipids level evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Changes in fasting lipids from baseline (HDL, LDL)	Fasting lipids level evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96.
Change from baseline in viral mutations for patients experiencing virological failure.	Mutations determined by resistance testing	until 96 weeks
Changes in QoL	Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L)	until week 96
Changes in patient satisfaction	Questionnaire (HIVTSQ)	until week 96
Number of participants with Adverse Events	Adverse Events reports (AEs, SAEs and treatment discontinuation)	until week 96
Number of potential DDIs avoided	Comparing the drug interaction outcomes between antiretroviral therapy and co-medications before and after the switch by using the www.hiv-druginteractions.org/ website (within the same study arm and between study arms)	until week 96
Virological suppression in individuals with previous NNRTIs virological failure and/or baseline transmitted resistance with the k103N resistance mutation, switching to DTG/RPV FDV	<200 copies/ml HIV RNA	week 24, 48, 96
PK Analysis	plasma concentrations of DTG and RPV	Predpse, week 4(Experimental arm only), 48 (Experimental arm only) and 96.
Changes in cell associated virus	PBMC Illumina MiSeq sequencing	week 48 and 96

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changed in HS CRP	HS CRP evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96
Changed in CD4/CD8	CD4/CD8 evaluation	week 24, 48 and 96

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NEAT ID Foundation
• Collaborators: ViiV Healthcare

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 5, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 15, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): October 27, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 2, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 27, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 6, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2022
• Last Verified: December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiviral Agents; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Retroviral Agents; HIV Integrase Inhibitors; Integrase Inhibitors; Protease Inhibitors; Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
• Other Study ID Numbers: NEAT 33; 2017-004040-38 (EudraCT Number)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No