Switch to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in people living with HIV aged 65 years or older: BICOLDER Study – IMEA 057

Polymedication and comorbidities are frequent in aging people with HIV (PWH) and often associated with elevated incidences of adverse events (AEs) and drug-drug interactions (DDIs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and practicality of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF), an antiretroviral (ARV) therapy with limited DDIs, in an elderly virologically-controlled PWH population. This study was prospective, multicentric, single-arm conducted in HIV-1 controlled PWH aged over 65 years who switched from a ritonavir- or cobicistat-boosted containing regimen to B/F/TAF. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants maintaining plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL at Week24. Secondary endpoints included biological endpoints and co-morbidity (Charlson) and frailty (Fried) scores. Median (IQR) results are presented. 24 participants aged 69 years (67-73), 79.2 % Caucasian, were analyzed in the intention-to-treat analysis. 75 % of participants were receiving an elvitegravir/cobicistat based regimen. At week24 and week48, 91.7 % of participants maintained a plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL. Study treatment was discontinued in one participant due to virologic failure at week12, possibly related to adherence issues following AE. Drug-related AEs were reported in 6 participants, with one discontinuation at week4 (nightmare/mood disorder). No life-threatening AEs or deaths were reported. No significant modifications from baseline were reported in weight, co-morbidities, kidney parameters, cardiovascular risk or frailty scores at W48. A mild decrease of total cholesterol and triglycerides was reported. The findings indicate that B/F/TAF is both safe and effective for elderly PWH patients with a prolonged and documented history of HIV infection, multiple co-morbidities and concomitant medication.