Limited Benefit Seen in Genvoya for the Treatment of HIV

According to a study published by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, the combination drug Genvoya may not offer significant benefits for a majority of adults diagnosed with HIV compared with other treatments.

In the study, researchers looked closely at the potential benefits of Genvoya in comparison to patients taking other HIV drugs.

Patients were separated into 4 groups based on age and prior treatment for HIV. The groups were divided by adolescent or adult, pretreated or treatment-naïve.

Treatment-naïve patients received efavirenz in combination with 2 additional drugs. Pretreated patients received individual antiretroviral therapy.

Researchers found there was a minor benefit for women who were pretreated. However, there were no benefits seen in pretreated men due to an increased risk of nervous system disorders.

The results showed that psychiatric disorders were less common in treatment-naïve adults while on Genvoya.

Although psychiatric disorders were less common, Genvoya did not prevent AIDS-defining illnesses as well as the other drugs. Furthermore, there were more serious side effects, infections, and infestations seen in this group.

The researchers concluded that this drug only marginally benefits pretreated women and will not benefit pretreated men or any treatment-naïve adult.