Juluca for HIV: What Pharmacists Should Know

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that weakens the immune system by destroying white blood cells.

An estimated 1.1 million adolescents and adults were living with HIV by the end of 2015, yet about 15% of them had not yet received a diagnosis, according to the CDC.¹ Although the widespread availability of HIV medication has decreased the complications and progression of the disease, adverse effects, drug interactions with concomitant medications, and medication non-adherence remain concerns in achieving optimal outcomes.

In November 2017, the FDA approved Juluca, a fixed-dose tablet containing 2 previously approved drugs (dolutegravir and rilpivirine) to treat adults with HIV type 1 (HIV-1) infections whose virus is suppressed on a stable regimen for at least 6 months, with no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to the individual components. With its approval, Juluca became the first complete treatment regimen containing just 2 drugs to treat certain adults with HIV-1.

Here are several key therapeutic areas with Juluca that every pharmacist should know:

Indication²

Julica is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults to replace the antiretroviral (ART) regimen in those who are virologically suppressed (defined as an HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) on a stable ART regimen for at least 6 months with no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to the individual components of Juluca.

Notably, Juluca is not indicated as initial treatment for treatment-naïve individuals with HIV-1.

Limitation of Use²

The effectiveness and safety of Juluca in pediatric patients have not been established. Additionally, because of the potential for HIV-1 transmission, mothers should not breastfeed if they are receiving Juluca.

Mechanism of Action²

Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor that works by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral DNA integration, which is essential for the HIV replication cycle.

Rilpivirine is an NNRTI of HIV-1 and inhibits HIV-1 replication by noncompetitive inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Formulation and Storage²

Juluca is formulated as a fixed-dose tablet containing 50 mg of dolutegravir, equivalent to 52.6 mg dolutegravir sodium, and 25 mg of rilpivirine, equivalent to 27.5 mg rilpivirine hydrochloride. Each bottle contains 30 tablets. Notably, Juluca is the smallest single-pill HIV-1 treatment available on the market.

Juluca should be stored and dispensed in the original package, while being protected from moisture. Do not remove the dessicant. Store at room temperature (68°F to 77°F).

Dosing²

The recommended dose of Juluca is 1 tablet taken orally once daily with a meal. If Juluca is co-administered with rifabutin, patients should take an additional 25-mg tablet of rilpivirine once daily with a meal for the duration of the rifabutin co-administration.

Efficacy²

The efficacy of Juluca was assessed in 2 open-label, controlled trials [SWORD-1 and SWORD-2) in virologically suppressed patients switching from their ART regimen to Juluca.

Both studies were identical, 148-week, phase 3, randomized, multicenter, parallel-group, non-inferiority trials. A total of 1024 adult HIV—1-infected subjects who were on a stable suppressive ART regimen containing 2 NRTIs, plus either an INSTI, a n

on-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors

,

or a protease inhibitor for at least 6 months, defined as HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL, with no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to dolutegravir or rilpivirine were included in the analysis.

Subjects were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to continue their ART regimen or be switched to Juluca once daily. The primary endpoint was the proportion of subjects with plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL at week 48. At baseline, the median age of subjects was 43 years (range 21-79), 22% female, 20% non-white, and 11% had CD4+ cell count < 350 cells/mm3.

Pooled study results showed no significant difference in the primary endpoint between each treatment group (95% in both). Treatment differences were maintained across baseline characteristics, including, age, baseline third-treatment-agent class, CD4+ cell count, gender, and race.

Safety²

The most common adverse reactions of Juluca reported in clinical trials were diarrhea and headaches. Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of depressive disorders, hepatotoxicity, and severe hypersensitivity or skin reactions.

Drugs that induce or inhibit CYP3A4 or UGT1A1 may affect the plasma concentrations of the components of Juluca. Therefore, concomitant use is contraindicated with carbamazepine, dexamethasone, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin, and St John's-wort. Additionally, use with proton pump inhibitors should be avoided, because increased gastric pH may lead to significant decreases in rilpivirine plasma concentrations and therefore loss of virologic response.

Single-Tablet Regimen Comparison³

Dosing

AWP (30 days)

Product Considerations

Juluca

(DTG/RPV)

1 tab QD

$3095

Not for treatment naïve patients; switch adult patients only

Atripla

(EFV/TDF/FTC)

1 tab QD

$3269

Indicated in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older

Biktarvy

(BIC/TAF/FTC)

1 tab QD

$3535

Indicated in adult patients only

Complera (RPV/TDF/FTC)

1 tab QD

$3217

Do not use if HIV RNA >100,000 copies/mL and CD4 count <200/mm3.

Genvoya

(EVG/c/TAF/FTC)

1 tab QD

$3535

Indicated in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 25 kg

Odefsey (RPV/TAF/FTC)

1 tab QD

$3217

Do not use if HIV RNA >100,000 copies/mL and CD4 count <200/mm3

Stribild (EVG/c/TDF/FTC)

1 tab QD

$3708

Indicated inn adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older weighing at least 35 kg

Triumeq (DTG/ABC/3TC)

1 tab QD

$3366

Avoid if patient is HLA-B*5701—positive

Cost based on AWP, per Lexi-Drugs. Cost to the patient will vary based on individual insurance coverage.

Guideline recommendations²

HIV guidelines list the followings reasons to consider regimen switching in the setting of viral suppression:

• To allow for optimal use of ART during pregnancy or in cases where pregnancy may occur
• To eliminate fluid or food requirements
• To enhance tolerability and decrease short- or long-term toxicity
• To mitigate or prevent drug-drug interactions
• To reduce prescription drug costs
• To simplify a regimen by reducing dosing frequency and pill burden

When a patient meets any of the above criteria guidelines, state that Juluca can be a reasonable option when the use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors is not desirable and when resistance to either DTG or RPV is not expected.

Conclusion

In clinical studies, Juluca was shown to be non-inferior in HIV-1 patients who switched compared with those who remained on their ART regimen. Although some clinicians may be hesitant to switch a patient who is stable on an ART regimen, cutting the number of antivirals from 3 to 2 may be beneficial in decreasing long-term total exposure and therefore resistance, and limiting adverse effects and drug interactions. Future studies would be beneficial to understand the long-term efficacy and safety benefits of a 2-drug regimen.

References

1. CDC. HIV/AIDS. cdc.gov/hiv/default.html. Updated April 25, 2018. Accessed May 5, 2018

2. Juluca [prescribing Information]. Research Triangle Park, NC: GlaxoSmithKline;2017; gsksource.com/pharma/content/dam/GlaxoSmithKline/US/en/Prescribing_Information/Juluca/pdf/JULUCA-PI-PIL.PDF#page=1. Accessed May 5 2018.

3. Lexicomp Online, Lexi-Drugs, Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp, Inc. online.lexi.com/lco/action/home. Accessed May 5, 2018.