ViiV Healthcare’s Dovato Matches Biktarvy in HIV Treatment Efficacy

ViiV Healthcare, a specialist HIV company majority-owned by GSK, announced 48-week results from the PASO DOBLE study, a phase IV clinical trial comparing the 2-drug regimen Dovato (DTG/3TC) to the 3-drug regimen Biktarvy (BIC/FTC/TAF) for treating HIV-1 in virologically suppressed adults. The findings, presented at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, revealed that Dovato was non-inferior to Biktarvy in maintaining viral suppression.

The trial involved 553 participants who were previously on regimens that could be optimized. Results indicated that Dovato not only matched Biktarvy in efficacy but also resulted in significantly less weight gain over the 48-week period. Specifically, the average weight gain for those on Dovato was 0.89kg compared to 1.81kg for those on Biktarvy. Additionally, the proportion of participants experiencing over 5% weight gain was higher in the Biktarvy group (29.9%) compared to the Dovato group (20%).

Esteban Martínez, Chief Executive Investigator of the PASO DOBLE study, emphasized the importance of evaluating HIV treatments beyond viral suppression. The trial's outcomes show that Dovato, a 2-drug regimen, not only maintained viral suppression effectively but also demonstrated a lower risk of weight gain compared to the 3-drug regimen Biktarvy, providing a valuable alternative for people living with HIV.