Two-Drug Treatment Approaches in HIV: Finally Getting Somewhere?

• Published in: Drugs (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 76; no. 5; pp. 523 - 531
• Main Authors: Kelly, Sean G., Nyaku, Amesika N., Taiwo, Babafemi O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Cholesterol; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Current Opinion; Drug Therapy, Combination - methods; Drugs; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV-1 - drug effects; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mutation; Patients; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacotherapy; Pilot projects; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Dual Therapy; Lamivudine; Atazanavir; Triple Therapy; Virologic Failure
• ISSN: 0012-6667; 1179-1950
• DOI: 10.1007/s40265-016-0553-8

The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly decreased AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the benefits of ART are only realized through adherence to lifelong treatment. Though contemporary antiretroviral (ARV) drugs have fewer adverse effects in comparison to older ARV drugs, many agents are associated with negative or unknown long-term effects. There is increasing evidence that two-drug (dual-therapy) regimens may be an effective alternative to the currently recommended three-drug (triple-therapy) regimens. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and critical review of recently completed and ongoing trials of dual-therapy regimens in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients. We also review current HIV/AIDS society recommendations regarding dual therapy as well as future therapeutic possibilities.