If overdose occurs the patient must be monitored for evidence of toxicity , and standard supportive treatment applied as necessary including observation of the clinical status of the patient and monitoring of vital signs and ECG (QT interval).
There is no specific antidote for overdose with Eviplera. Up to 30% of the emtricitabine dose can be removed by haemodialysis. Tenofovir is efficiently removed by hemodialysis with an extraction coefficient of approximately 54%. It is not known whether emtricitabine or tenofovir can be removed by peritoneal dialysis. Since rilpivirine is highly protein bound, dialysis is unlikely to result in significant removal of the active substance.
Administration of activated charcoal may also be used to aid in removal of unabsorbed rilpivirine hydrochloride.
Eviplera should not be co-administered with medicinal products that can result in significant decreases in rilpivirine plasma concentrations (due to cytochrome P450 [CYP]3A enzyme induction or gastric pH increase), which may result in loss of therapeutic effect of Eviplera , including:
- Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin
- Rifabutin, rifampicin, rifapentine
- Omeprazole, esomeprazole, dexlansoprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole
- Dexamethasone (oral and parenteral doses), except as a single dose treatment
- St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Not applicable.
Summary of the safety profile
The most frequently reported adverse reactions in clinical studies of treatment-naïve patients taking emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide in combination with elvitegravir + cobicistat were nausea (11%), diarrhoea (7%), and headache (6%). The most frequently reported adverse reactions in clinical studies of treatment-naïve patients taking rilpivirine hydrochloride in combination with emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate were nausea (9%), dizziness (8%), abnormal dreams (8%), headache (6%), diarrhoea (5%) and insomnia (5%).
No new adverse reactions were identified through Week 96 in 2 clinical studies of virologically suppressed patients who switched from emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/RPV/TDF) to Eviplera (Study GS-US-366-1216) or from efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV/FTC/TDF) to Eviplera (Study GS-US-366-1160).
Tabulated summary of adverse reactions
Assessment of adverse reactions is based on safety data from across all Phase 2 and 3 studies in which 2,396 patients received emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide given with elvitegravir + cobicistat as a fixed-dose combination tablet, pooled data from 686 patients who received rilpivirine 25 mg once daily in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products in the controlled studies TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215, 754 patients who received Eviplera in Studies GS-US-366-1216 and GS-US-366-1160, and on post-marketing experience with FTC/RPV/TDF.
The adverse reactions in Table 2 are listed by system organ class and highest frequency observed. Frequencies are defined as follows: very common (> 1/10), common (> 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (> 1/1,000 to < 1/100) or rare (> 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000).
Table 2: Tabulated list of adverse reactions
| Frequency | Adverse reaction |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | |
| Common: | decreased white blood cell count1, decreased haemoglobin1, decreased platelet count1 |
| Uncommon: | anaemia2 |
| Immune system disorders | |
| Uncommon: | immune reactivation syndrome1 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | |
| Very common: | increased total cholesterol (fasted)1, increased LDL-cholesterol (fasted)1 |
| Common: | decreased appetite1, increased triglycerides (fasted)1 |
| Psychiatric disorders | |
| Very common: | insomnia1 |
| Common: | depression1, abnormal dreams1, 3, sleep disorders1, depressed mood1 |
| Nervous system disorders | |
| Very common: | headache1, 3, dizziness1, 3 |
| Common: | somnolence1 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |
| Very common: | nausea1, 3, increased pancreatic amylase1 |
| Common: | abdominal pain1, 3, vomiting1, 3, increased lipase1, abdominal discomfort1, dry mouth1, flatulence3, diarrhoea3 |
| Uncommon: | dyspepsia3 |
| Hepatobiliary disorders | |
| Very common: | increased transaminases (AST and/or ALT)1 |
| Common: | increased bilirubin1 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | |
| Common: | rash1, 3 |
| Uncommon: | severe skin reactions with systemic symptoms4, 5, angioedema2, 6, pruritus3 |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | |
| Uncommon: | arthralgia3 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | |
| Common: | fatigue1, 3 |
1 Adverse reactions identified from rilpivirine clinical studies.
2 This adverse reaction was not observed in the Phase 3 studies of emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide in combination with elvitegravir + cobicistat or in the Phase 3 studies with Eviplera but identified from clinical studies or post-marketing experience of emtricitabine when used with other antiretrovirals.
3 Adverse reactions identified from emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide clinical studies.
4 Adverse reaction identified through post-marketing surveillance of emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
5 This adverse reaction was not observed in randomised controlled clinical studies for emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, so the frequency category was estimated from a statistical calculation based on the total number of patients exposed to emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or all of its components in randomised controlled clinical studies (n = 1261). See description of selected adverse reactions.
6 This adverse reaction was identified through post-marketing surveillance for emtricitabine but was not observed in randomised controlled clinical studies in adults or paediatric HIV clinical studies of emtricitabine. The frequency category of uncommon was estimated from a statistical calculation based on the total number of patients exposed to emtricitabine in these clinical studies (n = 1,563).
Laboratory abnormalities
Changes in serum creatinine for rilpivirine-containing regimens
The pooled data from the Phase 3 TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 studies of treatment-naïve patients also demonstrate that serum creatinine increased and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased over 96 weeks of treatment with rilpivirine. Most of this increase in creatinine and decrease in eGFR occurred within the first four weeks of treatment. Over 96 weeks of treatment with rilpivirine mean changes of 0.1 mg/dL (range: -0.3 mg/dL to 0.6 mg/dL) for creatinine and -13.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range: -63.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 40.1 mL/min/1.73 m2) for eGFR were observed. In patients who entered the studies with mild or moderate renal impairment, the serum creatinine increase observed was similar to that seen in patients with normal renal function. These increases do not reflect a change in actual glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Changes in lipid laboratory tests
In studies in treatment-naïve patients receiving emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide (FTC + TAF) or emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC + TDF), both given with elvitegravir + cobicistat as a fixed-dose combination tablet, increases from baseline were observed in both treatment groups for the fasting lipid parameters total cholesterol, direct low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides at Week 144. The median increase from baseline for these parameters was greater in patients receiving FTC + TAF compared with patients receiving FTC + TDF (p < 0.001 for the difference between treatment groups for fasting total cholesterol, direct LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides). Median (Q1, Q3) change from baseline at Week 144 in total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio was 0.2 (-0.3, 0.7) in patients receiving FTC + TAF and 0.1 (-0.4, 0.6) in patients receiving FTC + TDF (p = 0.006 for the difference between treatment groups).
Switching from a TDF-based regimen to Eviplera may lead to slight increases in lipid parameters. In a study of virologically suppressed patients switching from FTC/RPV/TDF to Eviplera (Study GS-US-366-1216), increases from baseline were observed in fasting values of total cholesterol, direct LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in the Eviplera arm; and no clinically relevant changes from baseline in median fasting values for total cholesterol to HDL ratio were observed in either treatment arm at Week 96. In a study of virologically suppressed patients switching from EFV/FTC/TDF to Eviplera (Study GS-US-366-1160), decreases from baseline were observed in the fasting values of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in the Eviplera arm; no clinically relevant changes from baseline in median fasting values for total cholesterol to HDL ratio, direct LDL cholesterol or triglycerides were observed in either treatment arm at Week 96.
Cortisol
In the pooled Phase 3 TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 studies of treatment-naïve patients, at Week 96, there was an overall mean change from baseline in basal cortisol of -19.1 (-30.85; -7.37) nmol/L in the rilpivirine arm and of -0.6 (-13.29; 12.17) nmol/L in the efavirenz arm. At Week 96, the mean change from baseline in ACTH-stimulated cortisol levels was lower in the rilpivirine arm (+18.4 ± 8.36 nmol/L) than in the efavirenz arm (+54.1 ± 7.24 nmol/L). Mean values for the rilpivirine arm for both basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol at Week 96 were within the normal range. These changes in adrenal safety parameters were not clinically relevant. There were no clinical signs or symptoms suggestive of adrenal or gonadal dysfunction in adults.
Description of selected adverse reactions
Metabolic parameters
Weight and levels of blood lipids and glucose may increase during antiretroviral therapy.
Immune Reactivation Syndrome
In HIV infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of initiation of CART, an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic infections may arise. Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves' disease) have also been reported; however, the reported time to onset is more variable and these events can occur many months after initiation of treatment.
Osteonecrosis
Cases of osteonecrosis have been reported, particularly in patients with generally acknowledged risk factors, advanced HIV disease or long-term exposure to CART. The frequency of this is unknown.
Severe skin reactions
Severe skin reactions with systemic symptoms have been reported during post-marketing experience of emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate including rashes accompanied by fever, blisters, conjunctivitis, angioedema, elevated liver function tests, and/or eosinophilia.
Paediatric population
The safety of emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide was evaluated through 48 weeks in an open-label clinical study (GS-US-292-0106) in which 50 HIV-1 infected, treatment-naïve paediatric patients aged 12 to < 18 years received emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide in combination with elvitegravir + cobicistat as a fixed-dose combination tablet. In this study, the safety profile in adolescent patients was similar to that in adults.
The safety assessment of rilpivirine is based on Week 48 data from one single-arm open-label study (TMC278-C213) in 36 paediatric patients 12 to < 18 years and weighing at least 32 kg. No patients discontinued rilpivirine due to adverse reactions. No new adverse reactions were identified compared to those seen in adults. Most adverse reactions were Grade 1 or 2. Adverse reactions (all grades) of very common frequency were headache, depression, somnolence and nausea. No Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities for AST/ALT or Grade 3-4 adverse reactions of transaminase increased were reported.
Other special populations
Patients with renal impairment
The safety of emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide was evaluated through 144 weeks in an open-label clinical study (GS-US-292-0112), in which 248 HIV-1 infected patients who were either treatment-naïve (n = 6) or virologically suppressed (n = 242) with mild to moderate renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate by Cockcroft-Gault method [eGFRCG]: 30-69 mL/min) received emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide in combination with elvitegravir + cobicistat as a fixed-dose combination tablet. The safety profile in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment was similar to that in patients with normal renal function.
Patients co-infected with HIV and HBV
The safety of emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide in combination with elvitegravir and cobicistat as a fixed-dose combination tablet (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide [E/C/F/TAF]) was evaluated in 72 HIV/HBV co-infected patients receiving treatment for HIV in an open-label clinical study (GS-US-292-1249), through Week 48, in which patients were switched from another antiretroviral regimen (which included TDF in 69 of 72 patients) to E/C/F/TAF. Based on these limited data, the safety profile of emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide in combination with elvitegravir and cobicistat as a fixed-dose combination tablet, in patients with HIV/HBV co-infection, was similar to that in patients with HIV-1 monoinfection.
In patients co-infected with hepatitis B or C virus receiving rilpivirine, the incidence of hepatic enzyme elevation was higher than in patients receiving rilpivirine who were not co-infected. The pharmacokinetic exposure of rilpivirine in co-infected patients was comparable to that in patients without co-infection.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system:
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store
Ireland
HPRA Pharmacovigilance
Earlsfort Terrace
IRL - Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6764971
Fax: +353 1 6762517
Website: www.hpra.ie
e-mail: [email protected]
Malta
ADR Reporting
Website: www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt/adrportal
Non-clinical data on emtricitabine reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproduction and development.
Non-clinical data on rilpivirine hydrochloride reveal no special hazard for humans based on studies of safety pharmacology, drug disposition, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproduction and development. Liver toxicity associated with liver enzyme induction was observed in rodents. In dogs cholestasis-like effects were noted.
Carcinogenicity studies with rilpivirine in mice and rats revealed tumorigenic potential specific for these species, but are regarded as of no relevance for humans.
Non-clinical studies of tenofovir alafenamide in rats and dogs revealed bone and kidney as the primary target organs of toxicity. Bone toxicity was observed as reduced bone mineral density in rats and dogs at tenofovir exposures at least four times greater than those expected after administration of Eviplera. A minimal infiltration of histiocytes was present in the eye in dogs at tenofovir alafenamide and tenofovir exposures of approximately 4- and 17-times greater, respectively, than those expected after administration of Eviplera.
Tenofovir alafenamide was not mutagenic or clastogenic in conventional genotoxicity assays.
Because there is a lower tenofovir exposure in rats and mice after the administration of tenofovir alafenamide compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, carcinogenicity studies and a rat peri-postnatal study were conducted only with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. No special hazard for humans was revealed in conventional studies of carcinogenic potential and toxicity to reproduction and development. Reproductive toxicity studies in rats and rabbits showed no effects on mating, fertility, pregnancy or foetal parameters. However, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate reduced the viability index and weight of pups in a peri-postnatal toxicity study at maternally toxic doses.
Eviplera is indicated for the treatment of adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and older with body weight at least 35 kg) infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) without known mutations associated with resistance to the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) class, tenofovir or emtricitabine and with a viral load ≤ 100,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiviral for systemic use; antivirals for treatment of HIV infections, combinations, ATC code: J05AR19
Mechanism of action and pharmacodynamic effects
Emtricitabine is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and analogue of 2'-deoxycytidine. Emtricitabine is phosphorylated by cellular enzymes to form emtricitabine triphosphate. Emtricitabine triphosphate competitively inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), resulting in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chain termination. Emtricitabine has activity against HIV-1, HIV-2, and HBV.
Rilpivirine is a diarylpyrimidine NNRTI of HIV-1. Rilpivirine activity is mediated by non-competitive inhibition of HIV-1 RT. Rilpivirine does not inhibit the human cellular DNA polymerases α, β and mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ.
Tenofovir alafenamide is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NtRTI) and prodrug of tenofovir (2'-deoxyadenosine monophosphate analogue). Due to increased plasma stability and intracellular activation through hydrolysis by cathepsin A, tenofovir alafenamide is more efficient than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in loading tenofovir into peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (including lymphocytes and other HIV target cells) and macrophages. Intracellular tenofovir is subsequently phosphorylated to the active metabolite tenofovir diphosphate. Tenofovir diphosphate inhibits HIV RT, resulting in DNA chain termination. Tenofovir has activity against HIV-1, HIV-2 and HBV.
Antiviral activity in vitro
The combinations of emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir alafenamide were not antagonistic and showed synergistic effects with each other in cell culture combination antiviral activity assays.
The antiviral activity of emtricitabine against laboratory and clinical isolates of HIV-1 was assessed in lymphoblastoid cell lines, the MAGI CCR5 cell line, and PBMCs. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) values for emtricitabine were in the range of 0.0013 to 0.64 µM. Emtricitabine displayed antiviral activity in cell culture against HIV-1 subtype A, B, C, D, E, F, and G (EC50 values ranged from 0.007 to 0.075 µM) and showed activity against HIV-2 (EC50 values ranged from 0.007 to 1.5 µM).
Rilpivirine exhibited activity against laboratory strains of wild-type HIV-1 in an acutely infected T-cell line with a median EC50 value for HIV-1/IIIB of 0.73 nM (0.27 ng/mL). Rilpivirine also demonstrated antiviral activity against a broad panel of HIV-1 group M (subtype A, B, C, D, F, G, H) primary isolates with EC50 values ranging from 0.07 to 1.01 nM (0.03 to 0.37 ng/mL), group O primary isolates with EC50 values ranging from 2.88 to 8.45 nM (1.06 to 3.10 ng/mL), and showed limited in vitro activity against HIV-2 with EC50 values ranging from 2,510 to 10,830 nM (920 to 3,970 ng/mL).
The antiviral activity of tenofovir alafenamide against laboratory and clinical isolates of HIV-1 subtype B was assessed in lymphoblastoid cell lines, PBMCs, primary monocyte/macrophage cells, and CD4+-T lymphocytes. The EC50 values for tenofovir alafenamide were in the range of 2.0 to 14.7 nM. Tenofovir alafenamide displayed antiviral activity in cell culture against all HIV-1 groups (M, N, O), including subtypes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G (EC50 values ranged from 0.10 to 12.0 nM) and showed activity against HIV-2 (EC50 values ranged from 0.91 to 2.63 nM).
Resistance
Considering all of the available in vitro data and data generated in treatment-naïve patients, the following resistance-associated mutations in HIV-1 RT, when present at baseline, may affect the activity of Eviplera: K65R, K70E, K101E, K101P, E138A, E138G, E138K, E138Q, E138R, V179L, Y181C, Y181I, Y181V, M184I, M184V, Y188L, H221Y, F227C, M230I, M230L and the combination of L100I and K103N.
A negative impact by NNRTI mutations other than those listed above (e.g., mutations K103N or L100I as single mutations) cannot be excluded, since this was not studied in vivo in a sufficient number of patients.
As with other antiretroviral medicinal products, resistance testing and/or historical resistance data should guide the use of Eviplera.
In vitro
Reduced susceptibility to emtricitabine is associated with M184V/I mutations in HIV-1 RT.
Rilpivirine-resistant strains were selected in cell culture starting from wild-type HIV-1 of different origins and subtypes as well as NNRTI-resistant HIV-1. The most commonly observed amino acid substitutions that emerged included: L100I, K101E, V108I, E138K, V179F, Y181C, H221Y, F227C, and M230I.
HIV-1 isolates with reduced susceptibility to tenofovir alafenamide expressed a K65R mutation in HIV-1 RT; in addition, a K70E mutation in HIV-1 RT has been transiently observed.
In treatment-naïve adult patients
In the Week 144 pooled analysis of antiretroviral-naïve patients receiving elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (E/C/F/TAF) in the Phase 3 studies GS-US-292-0104 and GS-US-292-0111, the development of one or more primary resistance-associated mutations was observed in HIV-1 isolates from 12 of 866 (1.4%) patients treated with E/C/F/TAF. Among these 12 HIV-1 isolates, the mutations that emerged were M184V/I (n = 11) and K65R/N (n = 2) in RT and T66T/A/I/V (n = 2), E92Q (n = 4), Q148Q/R (n = 1), and N155H (n = 2) in integrase.
In the Week 96 pooled analysis for patients receiving emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) + rilpivirine hydrochloride in the Phase 3 clinical studies TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215, HIV-1 isolates from 43 patients had an amino acid substitution associated with NNRTI (n = 39) or NRTI (n = 41) resistance. The NNRTI resistance-associated mutations that developed most commonly were: V90I, K101E, E138K/Q, V179I, Y181C, V189I, H221Y and F227C. The presence of V90I and V189I at baseline did not affect the response. Fifty-two percent of HIV-1 isolates with emergent resistance in the rilpivirine arm developed concomitant NNRTI and NRTI mutations, most frequently E138K and M184V. The mutations associated with NRTI resistance that developed in 3 or more patient isolates were: K65R, K70E, M184V/I and K219E.
Through Week 96, fewer patients in the rilpivirine arm with baseline viral load ≤ 100,000 copies/mL had emerging resistance-associated substitutions and/or phenotypic resistance to rilpivirine (7/288) than patients with baseline viral load > 100,000 copies/mL (30/262).
In virologically suppressed patients
One patient with emergent resistance (M184M/I) was identified in a clinical study of virologically suppressed patients who switched from a regimen containing emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to E/C/F/TAF in a fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablet (GS-US-292-0109, n = 959).
Through Week 96, in patients who switched to Eviplera from emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/RPV/TDF) or efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV/FTC/TDF) (Studies GS-US-366-1216 and GS-US-366-1160; n = 754), no treatment-emergent resistance-associated mutations were detected.
In patients co-infected with HIV and HBV
In a clinical study of HIV virologically suppressed patients co-infected with chronic hepatitis B, who received E/C/F/TAF for 48 weeks (GS-US-292-1249, n = 72), 2 patients qualified for resistance analysis. In these 2 patients, no amino acid substitutions associated with resistance to any of the components of E/C/F/TAF were identified in HIV-1 or HBV.
Cross-resistance
Emtricitabine-resistant viruses with the M184V/I substitution were cross-resistant to lamivudine, but retained sensitivity to didanosine, stavudine, tenofovir, and zidovudine.
In a panel of 67 HIV-1 recombinant laboratory strains with one resistance-associated mutation at RT positions associated with NNRTI resistance, the only single resistance-associated mutations associated with a loss of susceptibility to rilpivirine were K101P and Y181V/I. The K103N substitution alone did not result in reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine, but the combination of K103N and L100I resulted in a 7-fold reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine. In another study, the Y188L substitution resulted in a reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine of 9-fold for clinical isolates and 6-fold for site-directed mutants.
In patients receiving rilpivirine hydrochloride in combination with FTC/TDF in Phase 3 studies (TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 pooled data), most HIV-1 isolates with emergent phenotypic resistance to rilpivirine had cross-resistance to at least one other NNRTI (28/31).
The K65R and also the K70E substitution result in reduced susceptibility to abacavir, didanosine, lamivudine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, but retain sensitivity to zidovudine.
Clinical data
Clinical efficacy of Eviplera was established from studies conducted with emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide when given with elvitegravir + cobicistat as an E/C/F/TAF FDC tablet, from studies conducted with rilpivirine when given with FTC/TDF as individual components or as a FTC/RPV/TDF FDC tablet, and from studies conducted with Eviplera.
Emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide containing regimens
Treatment-naïve and virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected adult patients
In Study GS-US-292-0104 and Study GS-US-292-0111, patients received either E/C/F/TAF (n = 866) or elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (E/C/F/TDF) (n = 867) once daily, both given as FDC tablets.
The mean age was 36 years (range 18-76), 85% were male, 57% were White, 25% were Black, and 10% were Asian. The mean baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.5 log10 copies/mL (range 1.3-7.0) and 23% of patients had baseline viral loads > 100,000 copies/mL. The mean baseline CD4+ cell count was 427 cells/mm3 (range 0-1,360) and 13% had CD4+ cell counts < 200 cells/mm3.
In Studies GS-US-292-0104 and GS-US-292-0111, E/C/F/TAF demonstrated statistical superiority in achieving HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL when compared to E/C/F/TDF at Week 144. The difference in percentage was 4.2% (95% CI: 0.6% to 7.8%). Pooled treatment outcomes at 48 and 144 weeks are shown in Table 3.
In Study GS-US-292-0109, the efficacy and safety of switching from either EFV/FTC/TDF, FTC/TDF plus atazanavir (boosted by either cobicistat or ritonavir), or E/C/F/TDF to E/C/F/TAF FDC tablet were evaluated in a randomised, open-label study of virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL) HIV-1 infected adults (n = 959 switching to E/C/F/TAF, n = 477 Stayed on Baseline Regimen [SBR]). Patients had a mean age of 41 years (range 21-77), 89% were male, 67% were White, and 19% were Black. The mean baseline CD4+ cell count was 697 cells/mm3 (range 79-1,951).
In Study GS-US-292-0109, switching from a tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based regimen to E/C/F/TAF was superior in maintaining HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL compared to staying on the baseline regimen. Pooled treatment outcomes at 48 weeks are shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Virologic outcomes of Studies GS-US-292-0104, GS-US-292-0111 at Week 48 and Week 144a, and GS-US-292-0109 at Week 48a
|
| Treatment-naïve adults in Studies GS-US-292-0104 and GS-US-292-0111b | Virologically suppressed adults in Study GS-US-292-0109 | ||||
| Week 48 | Week 144 | Week 48 | ||||
| E/C/F/TAF (n = 866) | E/C/F/TDF (n = 867) | E/C/F/TAF (n = 866) | E/C/F/TDF (n = 867) | E/C/F/TAF (n = 959) | Baseline regimen (n = 477) | |
| HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL | 92% | 90% | 84% | 80% | 97% | 93% |
| Treatment difference | 2.0% (95% CI: -0.7% to 4.7%) | 4.2% (95% CI: 0.6% to 7.8%) | 4.1% (95% CI: 1.6% to 6.7%, p < 0.001c) | |||
| HIV-1 RNA > 50 copies/mLd | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
| No virologic data in Week 48 or 144 window | 4% | 6% | 11% | 16% | 2% | 6% |
| Discontinued study drug due to AE ore | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Discontinued study drug due to other reasons and last available HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mLf | 2% | 4% | 9% | 11% | 1% | 4% |
| Missing data during window but on study drug | 1% | < 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | <1% |
| HIV-1 RNA < 20 copies/mL | 84% | 84% | 81% | 76% |
|
|
| Treatment difference | 0.4% (95% CI: -3.0% to 3.8%) | 5.4% (95% CI: 1.5% to 9.2%) |
|
| ||
| Proportion (%) of patients with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL by prior treatment regimend |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| EFV/FTC/TDF |
|
|
|
| 96% | 90% |
| FTC/TDF plus boosted atazanavir |
|
|
|
| 97% | 92% |
| E/C/F/TDF |
|
|
|
| 98% | 97% |
a Week 48 window was between Day 294 and 377 (inclusive); Week 144 window was between Day 966 and 1049 (inclusive).
b In both studies, patients were stratified by baseline HIV-1 RNA (≤ 100,000 copies/mL, > 100,000 copies/mL to ≤ 400,000 copies/mL, or > 400,000 copies/mL), by CD4+ cell count (< 50 cells/µL, 50-199 cells/µL, or > 200 cells/µL), and by region (US or ex US).
c P-value for the superiority test comparing the percentages of virologic success was from the CMH (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel) test stratified by the prior treatment regimen (EFV/FTC/TDF, FTC/TDF plus boosted atazanavir, or E/C/F/TDF).
d Included patients who had > 50 copies/mL in the Week 48 or 144 window; patients who discontinued early due to lack or loss of efficacy; patients who discontinued for reasons other than an adverse event (AE), death or lack or loss of efficacy and at the time of discontinuation had a viral value of > 50 copies/mL.
e Included patients who discontinued due to AE or death at any time point from Day 1 through the time window if this resulted in no virologic data on treatment during the specified window.
f Included patients who discontinued for reasons other than an AE, death, or lack or loss of efficacy; e.g., withdrew consent, loss to follow-up, etc.
In Studies GS-US-292-0104 and GS-US-292-0111, the rate of virologic success was similar across patient subgroups (age, gender, race, baseline HIV-1 RNA, or baseline CD4+ cell count).
The mean increase from baseline in CD4+ cell count was 230 cells/mm3 in E/C/F/TAF-treated patients and 211 cells/mm3 in E/C/F/TDF-treated patients (p = 0.024) at Week 48 and 326 cells/mm3 in E/C/F/TAF-treated patients and 305 cells/mm3 in E/C/F/TDF-treated patients (p = 0.06) at Week 144.
Rilpivirine-containing regimens
Treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected adult patients
The efficacy of rilpivirine is based on the analyses of 96 weeks data from two randomised, double-blind, controlled studies in treatment-naïve patients (TMC278-C209 and emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate subset of TMC278-C215).
In the pooled analysis for TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 of 1096 patients who received a background regimen (BR) of FTC/TDF, demographic and baseline characteristics were balanced between the rilpivirine and efavirenz (EFV) arms. The median age was 36 years, 78% were male and 62% White and 24% Black/African American. Median plasma HIV-1 RNA was 5.0 log10 copies/mL and median CD4+ cell count was 255 cells/mm3.
Overall response and a subgroup analysis of the virologic response (< 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) at both 48 weeks and 96 weeks, and virologic failure by baseline viral load (pooled data from the two Phase 3 clinical studies, TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215, for patients receiving the FTC/TDF BR) is presented in Table 4.
Table 4: Virologic outcomes of randomised treatment of Studies TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 (pooled data for patients receiving rilpivirine hydrochloride or efavirenz in combination with FTC/TDF) at Week 48 (primary) and Week 96
| RPV + FTC/TDF (n = 550) | EFV + FTC/TDF (n = 546) | RPV + FTC/TDF (n = 550) | EFV + FTC/TDF (n = 546) | |
| Week 48 | Week 96 | |||
| Overall response (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL (TLOVRa))b | 83.5% (459/550) | 82.4% (450/546) | 76.9% (423/550) | 77.3% (422/546) |
| By baseline viral load (copies/mL) | ||||
| ≤ 100,000 | 89.6% (258/288) | 84.8% (217/256) | 83.7% (241/288) | 80.8% (206/255) |
| > 100,000 | 76.7% (201/262) | 80.3% (233/290) | 69.5% (182/262) | 74.2% (216/291) |
| Non-response | ||||
| Virologic failure (all patients) | 9.5% (52/550) | 4.2% (23/546) | 11.5% (63/550)c | 5.1% (28/546)d |
| By baseline viral load (copies/mL) | ||||
| ≤ 100,000 | 4.2% (12/288) | 2.3% (6/256) | 5.9% (17/288) | 2.4% (6/255) |
| > 100,000 | 15.3% (40/262) | 5.9% (17/290) | 17.6% (46/262) | 7.6% (22/291) |
| Death | 0 | 0.2% (1/546) | 0 | 0.7% (4/546) |
| Discontinued due to adverse event (AE) | 2.2% (12/550) | 7.1% (39/546) | 3.6% (20/550) | 8.1% (44/546) |
| Discontinued for non-AE reasone | 4.9% (27/550) | 6.0% (33/546) | 8% (44/550) | 8.8% (48/546) |
EFV = efavirenz; RPV = rilpivirine
a ITT TLOVR = Intention to treat time to loss of virologic response.
b The difference of response rate at Week 48 is 1% (95% confidence interval -3% to 6%) using normal approximation.
c There were 17 new virologic failures between the Week 48 primary analysis and Week 96 (6 patients with baseline viral load ≤ 100,000 copies/mL and 11 patients with baseline viral load > 100,000 copies/mL). There were also reclassifications in the Week 48 primary analysis with the most common being reclassification from virologic failure to discontinued for non-AE reasons.
d There were 10 new virologic failures between the Week 48 primary analysis and Week 96 (3 patients with baseline viral load ≤ 100,000 copies/mL and 7 patients with baseline viral load > 100,000 copies/mL). There were also reclassifications in the Week 48 primary analysis with the most common being reclassification from virologic failure to discontinued for non-AE reasons.
e e.g., lost to follow up, non-compliance, withdrew consent.
FTC/TDF + rilpivirine hydrochloride was non-inferior in achieving HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL compared to FTC/TDF + efavirenz.
Eviplera regimen
Virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected adult patients
In Study GS-US-366-1216, the efficacy and safety of switching from FTC/RPV/TDF to Eviplera were evaluated in a randomised, double-blind study of virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected adults. Patients had a mean age of 45 years (range 23−72), 90% were male, 75% were White, and 19% were Black. The mean baseline CD4+ cell count was 709 cells/mm3 (range: 104-2,527).
In Study GS-US-366-1160, the efficacy and safety of switching from EFV/FTC/TDF to Eviplera were evaluated in a randomised, double-blind study of virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected adults. Patients had a mean age of 48 years (range 19−76), 87% were male, 67% were White, and 27% were Black. The mean baseline CD4+ cell count was 700 cells/mm3 (range 140−1,862).
Treatment outcomes of Studies GS-US-366-1216 and GS-US-366-1160 are presented Table 5.
Table 5: Virologic outcomes of Studies GS-US-366-1216 and GS-US-366-1160 at Weeks 48a and 96b
| GS-US-366-1216 | GS-US-366-1160 | |||||||
| Week 48 | Week 96 | Week 48 | Week 96 | |||||
| ODE (n = 316) | FTC/RPV/TDF (n = 313)c | ODE (n = 316) | FTC/RPV/TDF (n = 313)c | ODE (n = 438) | EFV/FTC /TDF (n = 437) | ODE (n = 438) | EFV/FTC/TDF (n = 437) | |
| HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mLd | 94% | 94% | 89% | 88% | 90% | 92% | 85% | 85% |
| Treatment difference | -0.3% (95% CI: -4.2% to 3.7%) | 0.7% (95% CI: -4.3% to 5.8%) | -2.0% (95% CI: -5.9% to 1.8%) | 0% (95% CI: -4.8% to 4.8%) | ||||
| HIV-1 RNA > 50 copies/mLd | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| No virologic data in Week 48 or 96 window | 6% | 6% | 10% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 14% | 14% |
| Discontinued study drug due to AE or death and last available HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Discontinued study drug due to other reasons and last available HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mLe | 4% | 4% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 11% |
| Missing data during window but on study drug | < 1% | 1% | 1% | 0 | 1% | 1% | <1% | 0 |
ODE = Eviplera
a Week 48 window was between Day 295 and 378 (inclusive).
b Week 96 window was between Day 631 and 714 (inclusive).
c One patient who was not on FTC/RPV/TDF prior to screening was excluded from the analysis.
d Included patients who had > 50 copies/mL in the Week 48 or Week 96 window; patients who discontinued early due to lack or loss of efficacy; patients who discontinued for reasons other than lack or loss of efficacy and at the time of discontinuation had a viral value of > 50 copies/mL.
e Included patients who discontinued for reasons other than an AE, death, or lack or loss of efficacy; e.g., withdrew consent, loss to follow-up, etc.
At Week 96, switching to Eviplera was noninferior in maintaining HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL when compared to patients who stayed on FTC/RPV/TDF or on EFV/FTC/TDF in respective studies.
In Study GS-US-366-1216, the mean change from baseline in CD4+ cell count at Week 96 was 12 cells/mm3 in patients who switched to Eviplera and 16 cells/mm3 in those who remained on FTC/RPV/TDF. In Study GS-US-366-1160, the mean change
Absorption
Eviplera: Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide exposures were bioequivalent when comparing one Eviplera 200/25/25 mg film-coated tablet to elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (150/150/200/10 mg) fixed-dose combination tablet following single dose administration to healthy subjects (n = 82) under fed conditions. Rilpivirine exposures were bioequivalent when comparing Eviplera 200/25/25 mg to one rilpivirine (as hydrochloride) 25 mg film-coated tablet following single dose administration to healthy subjects (n = 95) under fed conditions.
Emtricitabine is rapidly and extensively absorbed following oral administration with peak plasma concentrations occurring at 1 to 2 hours post-dose. Following multiple dose oral administration of emtricitabine to 20 HIV-1 infected subjects, the (mean ± SD) area-under the plasma concentration-time curve over a 24-hour dosing interval (AUC) was 10.0 ± 3.1 h-µg/mL. The mean steady-state plasma trough concentration at 24 hours post-dose was equal to or greater than the mean in vitro IC90 value for anti-HIV-1 activity. The absolute bioavailability of emtricitabine from 200 mg hard capsules was estimated to be 93%. Emtricitabine systemic exposure was unaffected when emtricitabine was administered with food.
After oral administration, the maximum plasma concentration of rilpivirine is generally achieved within 4 to 5 hours. The absolute bioavailability of rilpivirine is unknown. Relative to fasting conditions, the administration of Eviplera to healthy adult subjects with food resulted in increased rilpivirine exposure (AUC) by 13-72%.
Tenofovir alafenamide is rapidly absorbed following oral administration, with peak plasma concentrations occurring at 15-45 minutes post-dose. Relative to fasting conditions, the administration of Eviplera to healthy adult subjects with food resulted in increased tenofovir alafenamide exposure (AUC) by 45-53%.
It is recommended that Eviplera be taken with food.
Distribution
In vitro binding of emtricitabine to human plasma proteins was < 4% and independent of concentration over the range of 0.02-200 µg/mL.
In vitro binding of rilpivirine to human plasma proteins is approximately 99.7%, primarily to albumin.
In vitro binding of tenofovir to human plasma proteins is < 0.7% and is independent of concentration over the range of 0.01-25 µg/mL. Ex vivo binding of tenofovir alafenamide to human plasma proteins in samples collected during clinical studies was approximately 80%.
Biotransformation
The biotransformation of emtricitabine includes oxidation of the thiol moiety to form the 3'-sulfoxide diastereomers (approximately 9% of dose) and conjugation with glucuronic acid to form 2'-O-glucuronide (approximately 4% of dose). Emtricitabine did not inhibit in vitro drug metabolism mediated by any of the major human CYP isoforms involved in drug biotransformation. Also, emtricitabine did not inhibit uridine-5'-diphosphoglucuronyl transferase (UGT), the enzyme responsible for glucuronidation.
In vitro experiments indicate that rilpivirine hydrochloride primarily undergoes oxidative metabolism mediated by the CYP3A system.
Metabolism is a major elimination pathway for tenofovir alafenamide in humans, accounting for > 80% of an oral dose. In vitro studies have shown that tenofovir alafenamide is metabolised to tenofovir (major metabolite) by cathepsin A in PBMCs (including lymphocytes and other HIV target cells) and macrophages; and by carboxylesterase-1 in hepatocytes. In vivo, tenofovir alafenamide is hydrolysed within cells to form tenofovir (major metabolite), which is phosphorylated to the active metabolite tenofovir diphosphate. In human clinical studies, a 10 mg oral dose of tenofovir alafenamide given with emtricitabine, cobicistat and elvitegravir resulted in tenofovir diphosphate concentrations > 4-fold higher in PBMCs and > 90% lower concentrations of tenofovir in plasma as compared to a 245 mg oral dose of tenofovir disoproxil (as fumarate) given with emtricitabine, cobicistat and elvitegravir.
In vitro, tenofovir alafenamide is not metabolised by CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, or CYP2D6. Tenofovir alafenamide is minimally metabolised by CYP3A4. Upon co-administration with the moderate CYP3A inducer probe efavirenz, tenofovir alafenamide exposure was not significantly affected. Following administration of tenofovir alafenamide, plasma [14C] -radioactivity showed a time-dependent profile, with tenofovir alafenamide as the most abundant species in the initial few hours and uric acid in the remaining period.
Elimination
Emtricitabine is primarily excreted by the kidneys with complete recovery of the dose achieved in urine (approximately 86%) and faeces (approximately 14%). Thirteen percent of the emtricitabine dose was recovered in urine as three metabolites. The systemic clearance of emtricitabine averaged 307 mL/min. Following oral administration, the elimination half-life of emtricitabine is approximately 10 hours.
The terminal elimination half-life of rilpivirine is approximately 45 hours. After single dose oral administration of [14C]-rilpivirine, on average 85% and 6.1% of the radioactivity could be retrieved in faeces and urine, respectively. In faeces, unchanged rilpivirine accounted for on average 25% of the administered dose. Only trace amounts of unchanged rilpivirine (< 1% of dose) were detected in urine.
Renal excretion of intact tenofovir alafenamide is a minor pathway with < 1% of the dose eliminated in urine. Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate is mainly eliminated following metabolism to tenofovir. Tenofovir is renally eliminated by both glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion.
Pharmacokinetics in special populations
Age, gender and ethnicity
No clinically relevant pharmacokinetic differences due to age, gender or ethnicity have been identified for emtricitabine, rilpivirine or tenofovir alafenamide.
Paediatric population
The pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1 infected paediatric patients 12 to < 18 years of age receiving rilpivirine 25 mg once daily was comparable to that in treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected adults receiving rilpivirine 25 mg once daily. There was no impact of body weight on rilpivirine pharmacokinetics in paediatric patients in Study C213 (33 to 93 kg), similar to what was observed in adults. The pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine in paediatric patients < 12 years of age is under investigation.
Exposures of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide given with elvitegravir + cobicistat achieved in 24 paediatric patients aged 12 to < 18 years were similar to exposures achieved in treatment-naïve adults (Table 6).
Table 6: Pharmacokinetics of emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide in antiretroviral-naïve adolescents and adults
| Adolescents | Adults | |||||
| Emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide | Emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide | |||||
| FTCa | TAFb | TFVb | FTCa | TAFc | TFVc | |
| AUCtau (ng-h/mL) | 14,424.4 (23.9) | 242.8 (57.8) | 275.8 (18.4) | 11,714.1 (16.6) | 206.4 (71.8) | 292.6 (27.4) |
| Cmax (ng/mL) | 2,265.0 (22.5) | 121.7 (46.2) | 14.6 (20.0) | 2,056.3 (20.2) | 162.2 (51.1) | 15.2 (26.1) |
| Ctau (ng/mL) | 102.4 (38.9)b | N/A | 10.0 (19.6) | 95.2 (46.7) | N/A | 10.6 (28.5) |
FTC = emtricitabine; TAF = tenofovir alafenamide; TFV = tenofovir, N/A = not applicable
Data are presented as mean (%CV).
a n = 24 adolescents (GS-US-292-0106); n = 19 adults (GS-US-292-0102)
b n = 23 adolescents (GS-US-292-0106, population PK analysis)
c n = 539 (TAF) or 841 (TFV) adults (GS-US-292-0111 and GS-US-292-0104, population PK analysis)
Renal impairment
Emtricitabine is principally eliminated by renal excretion and the exposure to emtricitabine increases in patients with renal impairment. Mean systemic emtricitabine exposure was higher in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl < 30 mL/min) (33.7 µg-h/mL) than in subjects with normal renal function (11.8 µg-h/mL).
The pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine have not been studied in patients with renal insufficiency. Renal elimination of rilpivirine is negligible. In patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease, plasma concentrations may be increased due to alteration of drug absorption, distribution and/or metabolism secondary to renal dysfunction. As rilpivirine is highly bound to plasma proteins, it is unlikely that it will be significantly removed by haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
No clinically relevant differences in tenofovir alafenamide, or tenofovir pharmacokinetics were observed between healthy subjects and subjects with severe renal impairment (estimated CrCl from 15 to < 30 mL/min) in studies of cobicistat-boosted elvitegravir or of tenofovir alafenamide, respectively.
Hepatic impairment
The pharmacokinetics of emtricitabine have not been studied in patients with varying degrees of hepatic insufficiency; however emtricitabine is not significantly metabolised by liver enzymes, so the impact of liver impairment should be limited.
Rilpivirine hydrochloride is primarily metabolised and eliminated by the liver. In a study comparing 8 patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class A) to 8 matched controls and 8 patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B) to 8 matched controls, the multiple dose exposure of rilpivirine was 47% higher in patients with mild hepatic impairment and 5% higher in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. However, it may not be excluded that the pharmacologically active, unbound, rilpivirine exposure is significantly increased in moderate impairment. Rilpivirine has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh Class C).
Clinically relevant changes in the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir alafenamide or its metabolite tenofovir were not observed in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. In patients with severe hepatic impairment, total plasma concentrations of tenofovir alafenamide and tenofovir are lower than those seen in subjects with normal hepatic function. When corrected for protein binding, unbound (free) plasma concentrations of tenofovir alafenamide in severe hepatic impairment and normal hepatic function are similar.
Hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus co-infection
The pharmacokinetics of emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide have not been fully evaluated in patients co-infected with hepatitis B and/or C virus.
Pregnancy and postpartum
After taking rilpivirine 25 mg once daily as part of an antiretroviral regimen, the total exposure of rilpivirine was lower during pregnancy (similar for the 2nd and 3rd trimester) compared with postpartum. The decrease in the unbound free fraction of rilpivirine exposure (ie, active) during pregnancy compared to postpartum was less pronounced than for total exposure of rilpivirine.
In women receiving rilpivirine 25 mg once daily during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, mean intra-individual values for total rilpivirine Cmax, AUC24h and Cmin values were 21%, 29% and 35% lower, respectively, as compared to postpartum; during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, Cmax, AUC24h and Cmin values were 20%, 31% and 42% lower, respectively, as compared to postpartum.
While effective viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy has been proven to substantially reduce the risk of sexual transmission, a residual risk cannot be excluded. Precautions to prevent transmission should be taken in accordance with national guidelines.
Virologic failure and development of resistance
There are insufficient data to justify the use in patients with prior NNRTI failure. Resistance testing and/or historical resistance data should guide the use of Eviplera.
In the pooled efficacy analysis from the two Phase 3 clinical studies in adults (C209 [ECHO] and C215 [THRIVE]) through 96 weeks, patients treated with emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + rilpivirine with a baseline viral load > 100,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL had a greater risk of virologic failure (17.6% with rilpivirine versus 7.6% with efavirenz) compared to patients with a baseline viral load ≤ 100,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL (5.9% with rilpivirine versus 2.4% with efavirenz). The virologic failure rate in patients treated with emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + rilpivirine at Week 48 and Week 96 was 9.5% and 11.5% respectively, and 4.2% and 5.1% in the emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + efavirenz arm. The difference in the rate of new virologic failures from the Week 48 to Week 96 analysis between rilpivirine and efavirenz arms was not statistically significant. Patients with a baseline viral load > 100,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL who experienced virologic failure exhibited a higher rate of treatment emergent resistance to the NNRTI class. More patients who failed virologically on rilpivirine than who failed virologically on efavirenz developed lamivudine/emtricitabine associated resistance.
Findings in adolescents (12 to less than 18 years of age) in Study C213 were generally in line with these data.
Only adolescents deemed likely to have good adherence to antiretroviral therapy should be treated with rilpivirine, as suboptimal adherence can lead to development of resistance and the loss of future treatment options.
Cardiovascular
At supratherapeutic doses (75 mg once daily and 300 mg once daily), rilpivirine has been associated with prolongation of the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram (ECG). Rilpivirine at the recommended dose of 25 mg once daily is not associated with a clinically relevant effect on QTc. Eviplera should be used with caution when co-administered with medicinal products with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes.
Patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B or C virus
Patients with chronic hepatitis B or C treated with antiretroviral therapy are at an increased risk for severe and potentially fatal hepatic adverse reactions.
The safety and efficacy of Eviplera in patients co-infected with HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have not been established.
Tenofovir alafenamide is active against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Discontinuation of Eviplera therapy in patients co-infected with HIV and HBV may be associated with severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis. Patients co-infected with HIV and HBV who discontinue Eviplera should be closely monitored with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months after stopping treatment.
Liver disease
The safety and efficacy of Eviplera in patients with significant underlying liver disorders have not been established.
Patients with pre-existing liver dysfunction, including chronic active hepatitis, have an increased frequency of liver function abnormalities during combination antiretroviral therapy (CART) and should be monitored according to standard practice. If there is evidence of worsening liver disease in such patients, interruption or discontinuation of treatment must be considered.
Weight and metabolic parameters
An increase in weight and in levels of blood lipids and glucose may occur during antiretroviral therapy. Such changes may in part be linked to disease control and life style. For lipids, there is in some cases evidence for a treatment effect, while for weight gain there is no strong evidence relating this to any particular treatment. For monitoring of blood lipids and glucose reference is made to established HIV treatment guidelines. Lipid disorders should be managed as clinically appropriate.
Mitochondrial dysfunction following exposure in utero
Nucleos(t)ide analogues may impact mitochondrial function to a variable degree, which is most pronounced with stavudine, didanosine and zidovudine. There have been reports of mitochondrial dysfunction in HIV negative infants exposed in utero and/or postnatally to nucleoside analogues; these have predominantly concerned treatment with regimens containing zidovudine. The main adverse reactions reported are haematological disorders (anaemia, neutropenia) and metabolic disorders (hyperlactatemia, hyperlipasemia). These events have often been transitory. Late onset neurological disorders have been reported rarely (hypertonia, convulsion, abnormal behaviour). Whether such neurological disorders are transient or permanent is currently unknown. These findings should be considered for any child exposed in utero to nucleos(t)ide analogues, who present with severe clinical findings of unknown etiology, particularly neurologic findings. These findings do not affect current national recommendations to use antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women to prevent vertical transmission of HIV.
Immune Reactivation Syndrome
In HIV infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of institution of CART, an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic pathogens may arise and cause serious clinical conditions, or aggravation of symptoms. Typically, such reactions have been observed within the first few weeks or months of initiation of CART. Relevant examples include cytomegalovirus retinitis, generalised and/or focal mycobacterial infections, and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Any inflammatory symptoms should be evaluated and treatment instituted when necessary.
Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves' disease) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reactivation; however, the reported time to onset is more variable and these events can occur many months after initiation of treatment.
Opportunistic infections
Patients receiving Eviplera may continue to develop opportunistic infections and other complications of HIV infection, and therefore should remain under close clinical observation by physicians experienced in the treatment of patients with HIV associated diseases.
Osteonecrosis
Although the aetiology is considered to be multifactorial (including corticosteroid use, alcohol consumption, severe immunosuppression, higher body mass index), cases of osteonecrosis have been reported particularly in patients with advanced HIV disease and/or long-term exposure to CART. Patients should be advised to seek medical advice if they experience joint aches and pain, joint stiffness or difficulty in movement.
Nephrotoxicity
A potential risk of nephrotoxicity resulting from chronic exposure to low levels of tenofovir due to dosing with tenofovir alafenamide cannot be excluded.
Pregnancy
Lower exposures of rilpivirine were observed when rilpivirine 25 mg once daily was taken during pregnancy. In the Phase 3 studies (C209 and C215), lower rilpivirine exposure, similar to that seen during pregnancy, has been associated with an increased risk of virological failure, therefore viral load should be monitored closely. Alternatively, switching to another antiretroviral regimen could be considered.
Co-administration of other medicinal products
Some medicinal products should not be co-administered with Eviplera.
Eviplera should not be co-administered with other antiretroviral medicinal products.
Eviplera should not be co-administered with other medicinal products containing tenofovir alafenamide, lamivudine, tenofovir disoproxil or adefovir dipivoxil.
Excipients
Eviplera contains lactose monohydrate. Consequently, patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicinal product.
Patients should be informed that fatigue, dizziness and somnolence have been reported during treatment with the components of Eviplera. This should be considered when assessing a patient's ability to drive or operate machinery.
Therapy should be initiated by a physician experienced in the management of HIV infection.
Posology
Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older, weighing at least 35 kg
One tablet to be taken once daily with food.
If the patient misses a dose of Eviplera within 12 hours of the time it is usually taken, the patient should take Eviplera with food as soon as possible and resume the normal dosing schedule. If a patient misses a dose of Eviplera by more than 12 hours, the patient should not take the missed dose and simply resume the usual dosing schedule.
If the patient vomits within 4 hours of taking Eviplera another tablet should be taken with food. If a patient vomits more than 4 hours after taking Eviplera they do not need to take another dose of Eviplera until the next regularly scheduled dose.
Elderly
No dose adjustment of Eviplera is required in elderly patients.
Renal impairment
No dose adjustment of Eviplera is required in adults or in adolescents (aged at least 12 years and of at least 35 kg body weight) with estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 30 mL/min.
Eviplera should not be initiated in patients with estimated CrCl < 30 mL/min, as there are no data available regarding the use of Eviplera in this population.
Eviplera should be discontinued in patients with estimated creatinine clearance that declines below 30 mL/min during treatment.
Hepatic impairment
No dose adjustment of Eviplera is required in patients with mild (Child Pugh Class A) or moderate (Child Pugh Class B) hepatic impairment. Eviplera should be used with caution in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. Eviplera has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh Class C); therefore, Eviplera is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Eviplera in children younger than 12 years of age, or weighing < 35 kg, have not yet been established. No data are available.
Pregnancy
Lower exposures of rilpivirine (one of the components of Eviplera) were observed during pregnancy; therefore viral load should be monitored closely. Alternatively, switching to another antiretroviral regimen could be considered.
Method of administration
Eviplera should be taken orally, once daily with food. The film-coated tablet should not be chewed, crushed or split.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
