Understand the benefits of simple administration that meets your patients’ needs1
Simplifying ART regimens, such as with a once-daily combination, is one of many approaches that can be used to help improve adherence
People featured are compensated by Gilead.
Potential benefits of simplified administration
Simple administration and adherence
When selecting a regimen for your patients, components and configuration are important. Simple administration, reducing side effects, accessibility of medication, and maintaining an uninterrupted supply of ART medication may help patients overcome potential adherence barriers. Prescribing a regimen with once-daily dosing can help minimize the risk of resistance by promoting adherence through a lower pill burden.1
Consider each of your patients’ needs related to treatment administration1
An administration approach tailored to each patient’s activities is associated with higher levels of adherence. Regimens that support adherence may bear the following characteristics:
- Once-daily dosing
- Smaller pill size
- Lower pill burden
- Fewer side effects
- No food requirement
- Fewer drug-drug interactions
Single-tablet regimen (STR) vs multi-tablet regimen (MTR)
While data that support or refute the superiority of an STR vs a once-daily MTR are limited,1 one study suggested that an STR may offer advantages:
A simplified treatment such as an STR was associated with enhanced regimen adherence and greater likelihood of viral suppression, allowing for improved immune function. In a clinical comparison of an STR vs an MTR, virologic suppression (<50 copies/mL) was greater in patients using an STR (~84%) (n=622) compared to an MTR (~78%) (n=406).3
It’s important to note that this study is not representative of all studies and that individual results can vary.
This was a retrospective study of patients initiating antiretroviral therapy at Thomas Street Health Center (TSHC), a free-standing HIV clinic that is part of the county-run Harris Health System in Harris County, Texas. The study retrospectively compared adherence, retention in care, and virologic outcomes between patients starting a once-daily single-tablet regimen (STR) to patients starting a once-daily multi-tablet regimen (MTR).3
ART, antiretroviral therapy; DHHS, US Department of Health and Human Services.
References:
- Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV. US Department of Health and Human Services. Updated September 12, 2024. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/sites/default/files/guidelines/documents/adult-adolescent-arv/guidelines-adult-adolescent-arv.pdf
- Vitoria M, Ford N, Doherty M, Flexner C. Simplification of antiretroviral therapy: a necessary step in the public health response to HIV/AIDS in resource-limited settings. Antivir Ther. 2014;19(suppl 3):31-37.
- Hemmige V, Flash CA, Carter J, Giordano TP, Zerai T. Single tablet HIV regimens facilitate virologic suppression and retention in care among treatment naïve patients. AIDS Care. 2018;30(8):1017-1024.