A Randomized Trial to Compare Dolutegravir Plus Boosted Darunavir Versus Recommended Standard of Care Antiretroviral Regimens in People With HIV-1, Whose First-line Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Therapy Has Failed: Final 96-week Results of the D2EFT Study

BACKGROUND: Longer-term outcome data following second-line antiretroviral therapy initiation in resource-limited settings is limited, especially in regions where genotypic resistance is inaccessible. This analysis evaluated extended efficacy and tolerability data from the D2EFT study. METHODS: D2EFT is a completed, multicenter, phase IIIB/IV, randomized, open-label trial in 14 low- and middle-income countries. People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had failed first-line non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens were switched to 1 of ritonavir-boosted darunavir plus 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (DRV/r + 2NRTIs), ritonavir-boosted darunavir plus dolutegravir (DTG + DRV/r), or dolutegravir with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus either lamivudine or emtricitabine (DTG + TDF/XTC), with or without pre-switch genotyping. Here we report virological suppression at 96 weeks, defined as HIV RNA <50 copies/mL in a modified intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: Between November 2017 and January 2022, 1190 participants were screened, 828 were randomized, and 826 were included in the analysis. At week 96, the proportions of participants with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL were 191/251 (76.1%) in DRV/r + 2NRTIs, 215/251 (85.7%) in DTG + DRV/r, and 231/283 (81.6%) in DTG + TDF/XTC. The treatment differences (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) in proportions achieving virological suppression were 9.6% (2.7, 16.4) in DTG + DRV/r and 9.0% (1.4, 16.6) in DTG + TDF/XTC, compared to DRV/r + 2NRTIs. Intermediate or high-level dolutegravir resistance was identified in 3/27 (13%) of virological failures in individuals taking DTG + TDF/XTC but in no one taking DTG + DRV/r. No darunavir resistance was observed. CONCLUSIONS: After 96 weeks of follow-up, DTG + DRV/r and DTG + TDF/XTC demonstrated virological superiority over DRV/r + 2NRTIs after first-line NNRTI-failure. However, emerging dolutegravir resistance, which was observed only in individuals taking DTG + TDF/XTC, requires ongoing global surveillance.