Once-daily dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy in infants and children living with HIV from age 4 weeks: results from the below 14 kg cohort in the randomised ODYSSEY trial
Pauline Amuge, Abbas Lugemwa, Ben Wynne, Hilda Mujuru, Avy Violari, Cissy Kityo, Moherndran Archary, Ebrahim Variava, Ellen White, Rebecca Turner, Clare Shakeshaft, Shabinah S. Ali, Kusum Nathoo, Lorna Atwine, Afaaf Liberty, Dickson Bbuye, Elizabeth Kaudha, Rosie Mngqibisa, Modehei Mosala, Vivian Mumbiro, Annet Nanduudu, Rogers Ankunda, Lindiwe Maseko, Adeodata Kekitiinwa, Carlo Giaquinto, Pablo Rojo, Diana M. Gibb, Anna Turkova, Deborah Ford, Amina Farhana Mehar, Pattamukkil Abraham, Elaine J. Abrams, Judith Acero, Gerald Muzorah Agaba, Grace Miriam Ahimbisibwe, Barbara Ainebyoona, Winnie Akobye, Yasmeen Akhalwaya, Nazim Akoojee, Shabinah S. Ali, Pauline Amuge, Catherine Andrea, María Ángeles Muñoz‐Fernández, Rogers Ankunda, Diana Antonia Rutebarika, Suvaporn Anugulruengkitt, Tsitsi Apollo, Moherndran Archary, Ronelle Arendze, Juliet Ategeka, Eunice Atim, Lorna Atwine, Abdel Babiker, Sarah Babirye, Enock Babu, Edward Bagirigomwa, Angella Baita, David Balamusani, Patsy Baliram, David Baliruno, Colin Ball, Henry Balwa, Alasdair Bamford, Srini Bandi, Dominique Barker, Linda Barlow‐Mosha, Dickson Bbuye, Shazia Begum, Osee Behuhuma, Sarah Bernays, Rogers Besigye, Maria Bester, Joyline Bhiri, Davide Bilardi, Kristien Bird, Pauline Bollen, Chiara Borg, Anne-Marie Borges Da Silva, Jackie Brown, Elena Bruno, Torsak Bunupuradah, David M. Burger, Nomzamo Buthelezi, Mutsa Bwakura‐Dangarembizi, Africanus Byaruhanga, Joanna Calvert, Petronelle Casey, Haseena Cassim, Sphiwee Cebekhulu, Sanuphong Chailert, Suwalai Chalermpantmetagul, Wanna Chamjamrat, Man K. Chan, Precious Chandiwana, Thannapat Chankun, Sararut Chanthaburanun, Nuttawut Chanto, Ennie Chidziva, Minenhle Chikowore, Joy Chimanzi
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Young children living with HIV have few treatment options. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children weighing between 3 kg and less than 14 kg. METHODS: ODYSSEY is an open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial (10% margin) comparing dolutegravir-based ART with standard of care and comprises two cohorts (children weighing ≥14 kg and <14 kg). Children weighing less than 14 kg starting first-line or second-line ART were enrolled in seven HIV treatment centres in South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Randomisation, which was computer generated by the trial statistician, was stratified by first-line or second-line ART and three weight bands. Dispersible 5 mg dolutegravir was dosed according to WHO weight bands. The primary outcome was the Kaplan-Meier estimated proportion of children with virological or clinical failure by 96 weeks, defined as: confirmed viral load of at least 400 copies per mL after week 36; absence of virological suppression by 24 weeks followed by a switch to second-line or third-line ART; all-cause death; or a new or recurrent WHO stage 4 or severe WHO stage 3 event. The primary outcome was assessed by intention to treat in all randomly assigned participants. A primary Bayesian analysis of the difference in the proportion of children meeting the primary outcome between treatment groups incorporated evidence from the higher weight cohort (≥14 kg) in a prior distribution. A frequentist analysis was also done of the lower weight cohort (<14 kg) alone. Safety analyses are presented for all randomly assigned children in this study (<14 kg cohort). ODYSSEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02259127. FINDINGS: Between July 5, 2018, and Aug 26, 2019, 85 children weighing less than 14 kg were randomly assigned to receive dolutegravir (n=42) or standard of care (n=43; 32 [74%] receiving protease inhibitor-based ART). Median age was 1·4 years (IQR 0·6-2·0) and median weight 8·1 kg (5·4-10·0). 72 (85%) children started first-line ART and 13 (15%) started second-line ART. Median follow-up was 124 weeks (112-137). By 96 weeks, treatment failure occurred in 12 children in the dolutegravir group (Kaplan-Meier estimated proportion 31%) versus 21 (48%) in the standard-of-care group. The Bayesian estimated difference in treatment failure (dolutegravir minus standard of care) was -10% (95% CI -19% to -2%; p=0·020), demonstrating superiority of dolutegravir. The frequentist estimated difference was -18% (-36% to 2%; p=0·057). 15 serious adverse events were reported in 11 (26%) children in the dolutegravir group, including two deaths, and 19 were reported in 11 (26%) children in the standard-of-care group, including four deaths (hazard ratio [HR] 1·08 [95% CI 0·47-2·49]; p=0·86). 36 adverse events of grade 3 or higher were reported in 19 (45%) children in the dolutegravir group, versus 34 events in 21 (49%) children in the standard-of-care group (HR 0·93 [0·50-1·74]; p=0·83). No events were considered related to dolutegravir. INTERPRETATION: Dolutegravir-based ART was superior to standard of care (mainly protease inhibitor-based) with a lower risk of treatment failure in infants and young children, providing support for global dispersible dolutegravir roll-out for younger children and allowing alignment of adult and paediatric treatment. FUNDING: Paediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS Foundation, ViiV Healthcare, UK Medical Research Council.