Research in context
Evidence before this study
The novel prodrug tenofovir alafenamide achieves high intracellular concentrations while maintaining 91% lower concentrations of plasma tenofovir than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and is associated with better renal and bone safety. We searched PubMed for randomised clinical trials of tenofovir alafenamide in HIV-1 infected individuals, with search terms including “tenofovir alafenamide”, “HIV”, and “randomised” or “randomized”. We limited searches to articles published in English between Jan 1, 1997, and May 31, 2016. The search yielded eight articles, but we excluded two because they described short-term, proof-of-concept, monotherapy studies. Four articles summarised week 48 or 96 data from clinical trials in treatment-naive adults (phase 2 and 3 trials comparing single-tablet regimens of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and either tenofovir alafenamide or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; and a phase 2 trial comparing darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and either tenofovir alafenamide or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate); one summarised a trial with virologically suppressed adults (phase 3 comparing elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide vs tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-containing regimens); and one summarised a trial in adults with renal impairments (a phase 3, single-arm assessment of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide). The results from these studies showed that tenofovir alafenamide is as effective as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, but is safer from the standpoint of renal and bone toxicity, as assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate, quantitative urinary protein, and bone mineral density. The PubMed search did not generate any reports of trials of tenofovir alafenamide in adolescent patients.
Added value of this study
Our 48 week, phase 2/3, single-arm, open-label trial investigated the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide in treatment-naive adolescents aged 12 to younger than 18 years, and is the first clinical trial to assess a single-tablet regimen containing tenofovir alafenamide in a paediatric cohort. The results were consistent with findings in adults, showing greater than 90% efficacy (as measured by virological suppression to <50 copies of HIV-1 RNA/mL) at week 48, no study drug discontinuations because of adverse events, improvement in total and tubular proteinuria compared to baseline, and positive gains in bone mineral density in spine and total body less head at week 48. Although ours was a small, non-comparative study of 50 adolescents, it provided the important evidence that led to the recent approval of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide for this age group. This regulatory pathway is similar to that of dolutegravir, also approved in adolescents based on a small, non-comparative study (n=23). Such study designs are consistent with, and responsive, to HIV paediatric regulatory guidance from the European Union and USA, which allow extrapolation of adult efficacy data.
Implications of all the available evidence
Elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide is a promising single-tablet regimen for HIV with proven efficacy and safety in several populations, now including treatment-naive, HIV-infected adolescents who might especially benefit from an improved bone safety profile during a period of peak bone growth and development. Results from this trial have led to the approval of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide in HIV-infected children aged 12 years and older in several countries, and its selection by the US Department of Health and Human Services paediatric HIV treatment guidelines panel as a preferred first-line regimen for adolescents. The study results also support further assessment of regimens containing tenofovir alafenamide in clinical trials of HIV-infected children younger than 12 years.