Tivicay

Yellow, round, biconvex tablets approximately 9 mm in diameter, debossed with 'SV 572' on one side and '50' on the other side.
Each film-coated tablet contains dolutegravir sodium equivalent to 50 mg dolutegravir.
Excipients/Inactive Ingredients: Tablet core: Mannitol (E421), Microcrystalline cellulose, Povidone K29/32, Sodium starch glycolate, Sodium stearyl fumarate.
Tablet coating: Polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, Titanium dioxide (E171), Macrogol, Talc, Iron oxide yellow (E172).

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antivirals for systemic use, other antivirals. ATC code: J05AJ03.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: Dolutegravir inhibits HIV integrase by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integration which is essential for the HIV replication cycle.
Pharmacodynamic effects: Antiviral activity in cell culture: The IC₅₀ for dolutegravir in various lab strains using PBMC was 0.5 nM, and when using MT-4 cells it ranged from 0.7-2 nM. Similar IC_50s were seen for clinical isolates without any major difference between subtypes; in a panel of 24 HIV-1 isolates of clades A, B, C, D, E, F and G and group O the mean IC₅₀ value was 0.2 nM (range 0.02-2.14). The mean IC₅₀ for 3 HIV-2 isolates was 0.18 nM (range 0.09-0.61).
Antiviral activity in combination with other antiviral agents: No antagonistic effects in vitro were seen with dolutegravir and other antiretrovirals tested: stavudine, abacavir, efavirenz, nevirapine, lopinavir, amprenavir, enfuvirtide, maraviroc and raltegravir. In addition, no antagonistic effects were seen for dolutegravir and adefovir, and ribavirin had no apparent effect on dolutegravir activity.
Effect of human serum: In 100% human serum, the mean protein fold shift was 75-fold, resulting in protein adjusted IC90 of 0.064 ug/mL.
Resistance: Resistance in vitro: Serial passage is used to study resistance evolution in vitro. When using the lab-strain HIV-1 IIIB during passage over 112 days, mutations selected appeared slowly, with substitutions at positions S153Y and F, resulting in a maximal fold change in susceptibility of 4 (range 2-4). These mutations were not selected in patients treated with dolutegravir in the clinical studies. Using strain NL432, mutations E92Q (FC 3) and G193E (also FC 3) were selected. The E92Q mutation has been selected in patients with pre-existing raltegravir resistance who were then treated with dolutegravir (listed as a secondary mutation for dolutegravir).
In further selection experiments using clinical isolates of subtype B, mutation R263K was seen in all five isolates (after 20 weeks and onwards). In subtype C (n=2) and A/G (n=2) isolates the integrase substitution R263K was selected in one isolate, and G118R in two isolates. R263K was reported from two ART-experienced, INI naive individual patients with subtypes B and C in the clinical program, but without effects on dolutegravir susceptibility in vitro. G118R lowers the susceptibility to dolutegravir in site directed mutants (FC 10), but was not detected in patients receiving dolutegravir in the Phase III program.
Primary mutations for raltegravir/elvitegravir (Q148H/R/K, N155H, Y143R/H/C, E92Q and T66I) do not affect the in vitro susceptibility of dolutegravir as single mutations. When mutations listed as secondary integrase inhibitor associated mutations (for raltegravir/elvitegravir) are added to these primary mutations in experiments with site directed mutants, dolutegravir susceptibility is still unchanged (FC <2 vs wild type virus), except in the case of Q148-mutations, where a FC of 5-10 or higher is seen with combinations of certain secondary mutations. The effect by the Q148-mutations (H/R/K) was also verified in passage experiments with site directed mutants. In serial passage with strain NL432, starting with site directed mutants harbouring N155H or E92Q, no further selection of resistance was seen (FC unchanged around 1). In contrast, starting with mutants harbouring mutation Q148H (FC 1), a variety of secondary mutations were seen with a consequent increase of FC to values >10.
A clinically relevant phenotypic cut-off value (FC vs wild type virus) has not been determined; genotypic resistance was a better predictor for outcome.
Seven hundred and five raltegravir-resistant isolates from raltegravir-experienced patients were analyzed for susceptibility to dolutegravir. Dolutegravir has a less than or equal to 10 FC against 94% of the 705 clinical isolates.
Resistance in vivo: In previously untreated patients receiving dolutegravir + 2 NRTIs in Phase IIb and Phase III, no development of resistance to the integrase class, or to the NRTI class was seen (n=1118, follow-up of 48-96 weeks).
In patients with prior failed therapies, but naive to the integrase class (SAILING study), integrase inhibitor substitutions were observed in 4/354 patients (follow-up 48 weeks) treated with dolutegravir, which was given in combination with an investigator selected background regimen (BR). Of these four, two subjects had a unique R263K integrase substitution, with a maximum FC of 1.93, one subject had a polymorphic V151V/I integrase substitution, with maximum FC of 0.92, and one subject had pre-existing integrase mutations and is assumed to have been integrase experienced or infected with integrase resistant virus by transmission. The R263K mutation was also selected in vitro (see previously mentioned).
In the presence of integrase class-resistance (VIKING-3 study) the following mutations were selected in 32 patients with protocol defined virological failure (PDVF) through Week 24 and with paired genotypes (all treated with dolutegravir 50 mg twice daily + optimized background agents): L74L/M (n=1), E92Q (n=2), T97A (n=9), E138K/A/T (n=8), G140S (n=2), Y143H (n=1), S147G (n=1), Q148H/K/R (n=4), and N155H (n=1) and E157E/Q (n=1). Treatment-emergent integrase resistance typically appeared in patients with a history of the Q148-mutation (baseline or historic). Five further subjects experienced PDVF between weeks 24 and 48, and 2 of these 5 had treatment-emergent mutations. Treatment-emergent mutations or mixtures of mutations observed were L74I (n=1), N155H (n=2).
The VIKING-4 study examined dolutegravir (plus optimized background therapy) in subjects with primary genotypic resistance to INIs at Screening in 30 subjects. Treatment-emergent mutations observed were consistent with those observed in the VIKING-3 study.
Effects on electrocardiogram: No relevant effects were seen on the QTc interval, with doses exceeding the clinical dose by approximately three fold.
Clinical efficacy and safety: Previously untreated patients: The efficacy of dolutegravir in HIV-infected, therapy-naive subjects is based on the analyses of 96-week data from two randomized, international, double-blind, active-controlled trials, SPRING-2 (ING113086) and SINGLE (ING114467). This is supported by 96-week data from an open-label, randomized and active-controlled study FLAMINGO (ING114915) and additional data from the open-label phase of SINGLE to 144 weeks.
In SPRING-2, 822 adults were randomized and received at least one dose of either dolutegravir 50 mg once daily or raltegravir (RAL) 400 mg twice daily, both administered with either ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC. At baseline, median patient age was 36 years, 14% were female, 15% non-white, 11% had hepatitis B and/or C co-infection and 2% were CDC Class C, these characteristics were similar between treatment groups.
In SINGLE, 833 subjects were randomized and received at least one dose of either dolutegravir 50 mg once daily with fixed-dose abacavir-lamivudine (DTG + ABC/3TC) or fixed-dose efavirenz-tenofovir-emtricitabine (EFV/TDF/FTC). At baseline, median patient age was 35 years, 16% were female, 32% non-white, 7% had hepatitis C co-infection and 4% were CDC Class C, these characteristics were similar between treatment groups.
The primary endpoint and other week 48 outcomes (including outcomes by key baseline covariates) for SPRING-2 and SINGLE are shown in Table 1. (See Table 1.)

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At week 48, dolutegravir was non-inferior to raltegravir in the SPRING-2 study, and in the SINGLE study dolutegravir + ABC/3TC was superior to efavirenz/TDF/FTC (p=0.003), table 1 as previously mentioned. In SINGLE, the median time to viral suppression was shorter in the dolutegravir-treated patients (28 vs 84 days, p<0.0001, analysis pre-specified and adjusted for multiplicity).
At week 96, results were consistent with those seen at week 48. In SPRING-2, dolutegravir was still non-inferior to raltegravir (viral suppression in 81% vs 76% of patients), and with a median change in CD4 count of 276 vs 264 cells/mm³, respectively. In SINGLE, dolutegravir + ABC/3TC was still superior to EFV/TDF/FTC (viral suppression in 80% vs 72%, treatment difference 8.0% (2.3, 13.8), p=0.006, and with an adjusted mean change in CD4 count of 325 vs 281 cells/mm³, respectively. At 144 weeks in the open-label phase of SINGLE, virologic suppression was maintained, the dolutegravir + ABC/3TC arm (71%) was superior to the EFV/TDF/FTC arm (63%), treatment difference was 8.3% (2.0, 14.6).
In FLAMINGO (ING114915), an open-label, randomised and active-controlled study, 484 HIV-1 infected antiretroviral naive adults received one dose of either dolutegravir 50 mg film-coated tablets once daily (n=242) or darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) 800 mg/100 mg once daily (n=242), both administered with either ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC. At baseline, median patient age was 34 years, 15% were female, 28% non-white, 10% had hepatitis B and/or C co-infection, and 3% were CDC Class C; these characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) in the dolutegravir group (90%) was superior to the DRV/r group (83%) at 48 weeks. The adjusted difference in proportion and 95% CI were 7.1% (0.9, 13.2), p=0.025. At 96 weeks, virologic suppression in the dolutegravir group (80%) was superior to the DRV/r group (68%), (adjusted treatment difference [DTG-(DRV+RTV)]: 12.4%; 95% CI: [4.7, 20.2].
Treatment-emergent resistance in previously untreated patients failing therapy: Through 96 weeks in SPRING-2 and FLAMINGO and 144 weeks in SINGLE, no cases of treatment-emergent primary resistance to the integrase- or NRTI-class were seen in the dolutegravir-containing arms. For the comparator arms, the same lack of treatment-emergent resistance was also the case for patients treated with darunavir/r in FLAMINGO. In SPRING-2, four patients in the RAL arm failed with major NRTI mutations and one with raltegravir resistance; in SINGLE, six patients in the EFV/TDF/FTC arm failed with mutations associated with NNRTI resistance and one developed a major NRTI mutation.
Patients with prior treatment failure, but not exposed to the integrase class: In the international multicentre, double-blind SAILING study (ING111762), 719 HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral therapy (ART)-experienced adults were randomized and received either dolutegravir 50 mg once daily or raltegravir 400 mg twice daily with investigator selected background regimen consisting of up to 2 agents (including at least one fully active agent). At baseline, median patient age was 43 years, 32% were female, 50% non-white, 16% had hepatitis B and/or C co-infection, and 46% were CDC Class C. All patients had at least two class ART resistance, and 49% of subjects had at least 3-class ART resistance at baseline.
Week 48 outcomes (including outcomes by key baseline covariates) for SAILING are shown in Table 2. (See Table 2.)

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In the SAILING study, virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) in the Tivicay arm (71%) was statistically superior to the raltegravir arm (64%), at Week 48 (p=0.03).
Statistically fewer subjects failed therapy with treatment-emergent integrase resistance on Tivicay (4/354, 1%) than on raltegravir (17/361, 5%) (p=0.003) (refer to section 'Resistance in vivo' as previously mentioned for details).
Patients with prior treatment failure that included an integrase inhibitor (and integrase class resistance): In the multicentre, open-label, single arm VIKING-3 study (ING112574), HIV-1 infected, ART-experienced adults with virological failure and current or historical evidence of raltegravir and/or elvitegravir resistance received Tivicay 50 mg twice daily with the current failing background regimen for 7 days but with optimised background ART from Day 8. The study enrolled 183 patients, 133 with INI-resistance at Screening and 50 with only historical evidence of resistance (and not at Screening). Raltegravir/elvitegravir was part of the current failing regimen in 98/183 patients (part of prior failing therapies in the others). At baseline, median patient age was 48 years, 23% were female, 29% non-white, and 20% had hepatitis B and/or C co-infection. Median baseline CD4+ was 140 cells/mm³, median duration of prior ART was 14 years, and 56% were CDC Class C. Subjects showed multiple class ART resistance at baseline: 79% had ≥2 NRTI, 75% ≥1 NNRTI, and 71% ≥2 PI major mutations; 62% had non-R5 virus.
Mean change from baseline in HIV RNA at day 8 (primary endpoint) was -1.4log₁₀ copies/mL (95% CI -1.3 - -1.5log₁₀, p<0.001). Response was associated with baseline INI mutation pathway, as shown in Table 3. (See Table 3.)

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In patients without a primary mutation detected at baseline (N=60) (i.e. RAL/EVG not part of current failing therapy) there was a 1.63 log₁₀ reduction in viral load at day 8.
After the functional monotherapy phase, subjects had the opportunity to re-optimize their background regimen when possible. The overall response rate through 24 weeks of therapy, 69% (126/183), was generally sustained through 48 weeks with 116/183 (63%) of patients with HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL (ITT-E, Snapshot algorithm). When excluding patients who stopped therapy for non-efficacy reasons, and those with major protocol deviations (incorrect dolutegravir dosing, intake of prohibited co-medication), namely, "the Virological Outcome (VO)-population", the corresponding response rates were 75% (120/161, week 24) and 69% (111/160, week 48).
The response was lower when the Q148-mutation was present at baseline, and in particular in the presence of ≥2 secondary mutations, Table 4. The overall susceptibility score (OSS) of the optimised background regimen (OBR) was not associated with Week 24 response, nor with the week 48 response. (See Table 4.)

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The median change in CD4+ T cell count from baseline for VIKING-3 based on observed data was 61 cells/mm³ at Week 24 and 110 cells/mm³ at Week 48.
In the double-blind, placebo-controlled VIKING-4 study (ING116529), 30 HIV-1-infected, ART-experienced adults with primary genotypic resistance to INIs at Screening, were randomised to receive either dolutegravir 50 mg twice daily or placebo with the current failing regimen for 7 days followed by an open-label phase with all subjects receiving dolutegravir. At baseline, median patient age was 49 years, 20% were female, 58% non-white, and 23% had hepatitis B and/or C co-infection. Median baseline CD4+ was 160 cells/mm³, median duration of prior ART was 13 years, and 63% were CDC Class C. Subjects showed multiple class ART resistance at baseline: 80% had ≥2 NRTI, 73% ≥1 NNRTI, and 67% ≥2 PI major mutations; 83% had non-R5 virus. Sixteen of 30 subjects (53%) harboured Q148 virus at baseline. The primary endpoint at Day 8 showed that dolutegravir 50 mg twice daily was superior to placebo, with an adjusted mean treatment difference for the change from Baseline in Plasma HIV-1 RNA of -1.2 log₁₀ copies/mL (95% CI -1.5 - -0.8 log₁₀ copies/mL, p<0.001). The day 8 responses in this placebo-controlled study were fully in line with those seen in VIKING-3 (not placebo-controlled), including by baseline integrase resistance categories. At week 48, 12/30 (40%) subjects had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL (ITT-E, Snapshot algorithm).
In a combined analysis of VIKING-3 and VIKING-4 (n=186, VO population), the proportion of subjects with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL at Week 48 was 123/186 (66%). The proportion of subjects with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL was 96/126 (76%) for No Q148 mutations, 22/41 (54%) for Q148+1 and 5/19 (26%) for Q148 + ≥2 secondary mutations.
Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry: The APR has received reports of over 600 exposures to TIVICAY during pregnancy resulting in live births, as of July 2019. These consist of over 370 exposures during the first trimester, over 230 exposures during the second/third trimester and included 12 and 9 birth defects, respectively. The prevalence (95% CI) of defects among live births exposed to dolutegravir in the first trimester was 3.2% (1.7%, 5.5%) and in the second/third trimester, 3.8% (1.7%, 7.0%). The available data from the APR shows no significant increase in risk of major birth defects for dolutegravir compared to the background rates in the two population based surveillance systems (Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program with defects of 2.72 per 100 live births and the Texas Birth Defects Registry with 4.17 per 100 live births).
Paediatric population: In an ongoing Phase I/II 48 week multicentre, open-label study (P1093/ING112578), the pharmacokinetic parameters, safety, tolerability and efficacy of Tivicay were evaluated in combination regimens in HIV-1 infected infants, children and adolescents aged ≥4 weeks to <18 years, the majority of whom were treatment-experienced. (See Table 5.)

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Pharmacokinetics: Dolutegravir pharmacokinetics are similar between healthy and HIV-infected subjects. The PK variability of dolutegravir is low to moderate. In Phase I studies in healthy subjects, between-subject CVb% for AUC and C_max ranged from ~20 to 40% and Cτ from 30 to 65% across studies. The between-subject PK variability of dolutegravir was higher in HIV-infected subjects than healthy subjects. Within-subject variability (CVw%) is lower than between-subject variability.
Absorption: Dolutegravir is rapidly absorbed following oral administration, with median T_max at 2 to 3 hours post dose for film-coated tablet formulation.
Dolutegravir may be administered with or without food. Food increased the extent and slowed the rate of absorption of dolutegravir. Bioavailability of dolutegravir depends on meal content: low, moderate, and high fat meals increased dolutegravir AUC_(0-∞) by 33%, 41%, and 66%, increased C_max by 46%, 52%, and 67%, prolonged T_max to 3, 4, and 5 hours from 2 hours under fasted conditions, respectively. These increases may be clinically relevant in the presence of certain integrase class resistance. Therefore, Tivicay is recommended to be taken with food by patients infected with HIV with integrase class resistance (see Dosage & Administration).
The absolute bioavailability of dolutegravir has not been established.
Distribution: Dolutegravir is highly bound (>99%) to human plasma proteins based on in vitro data. The apparent volume of distribution is 17 L to 20 L in HIV-infected patients, based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis. Binding of dolutegravir to plasma proteins is independent of dolutegravir concentration. Total blood and plasma drug-related radioactivity concentration ratios averaged between 0.441 to 0.535, indicating minimal association of radioactivity with blood cellular components. The unbound fraction of dolutegravir in plasma is increased at low levels of serum albumin (<35 g/L) as seen in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment.
Dolutegravir is present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In 13 treatment-naive subjects on a stable dolutegravir plus abacavir/lamivudine regimen, dolutegravir concentration in CSF averaged 18 ng/mL (comparable to unbound plasma concentration, and above the IC₅₀).
Dolutegravir is present in the female and male genital tracts. AUC in cervicovaginal fluid, cervical tissue and vaginal tissue were 6-10% of those in corresponding plasma at steady state. AUC in semen was 7% and 17% in rectal tissue of those in corresponding plasma at steady state.
Biotransformation: Dolutegravir is primarily metabolized through glucuronidation via UGT1A1 with a minor CYP3A component. Dolutegravir is the predominant circulating compound in plasma; renal elimination of unchanged active substance is low (<1% of the dose). Fifty-three percent of total oral dose is excreted unchanged in the faeces. It is unknown if all or part of this is due to unabsorbed active substance or biliary excretion of the glucuronidate conjugate, which can be further degraded to form the parent compound in the gut lumen. Thirty-two percent of the total oral dose is excreted in the urine, represented by ether glucuronide of dolutegravir (18.9% of total dose), N-dealkylation metabolite (3.6% of total dose), and a metabolite formed by oxidation at the benzylic carbon (3.0% of total dose).
Drug interactions: In vitro, dolutegravir demonstrated no direct, or weak inhibition (IC₅₀ >50 μM) of the enzymes cytochrome P₄₅₀ (CYP)1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A, uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT)1A1 or UGT2B7, or the transporters Pgp, BCRP, BSEP, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OCT1, MATE2-K, MRP2 or MRP4. In vitro, dolutegravir did not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6 or CYP3A4. Based on this data, dolutegravir is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of medicinal products that are substrates of major enzymes or transporters (see Interactions).
In vitro, dolutegravir was not a substrate of human OATP1B1, OATP1B3 or OCT 1.
Elimination: Dolutegravir has a terminal half-life of ~14 hours. The apparent oral clearance (CL/F) is approximately 1 L/hr in HIV-infected patients based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis.
Linearity/non-linearity: The linearity of dolutegravir pharmacokinetics is dependent on dose and formulation. Following oral administration of tablet formulations, in general, dolutegravir exhibited nonlinear pharmacokinetics with less than dose-proportional increases in plasma exposure from 2 to 100 mg; however increase in dolutegravir exposure appears dose-proportional from 25 mg to 50 mg for the tablet formulation. With 50 mg twice daily, the exposure over 24 hours was approximately doubled compared to 50 mg once daily.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship(s): In a randomized, dose-ranging trial, HIV-1-infected subjects treated with dolutegravir monotherapy (ING111521) demonstrated rapid and dose-dependent antiviral activity, with mean decline in HIV-1 RNA of 2.5 log₁₀ at day 11 for 50 mg dose. This antiviral response was maintained for 3 to 4 days after the last dose in the 50 mg group.
PK/PD modelling using pooled data from clinical studies in integrase-resistant patients suggest that increasing the dose from 50 mg twice daily to 100 mg twice daily may increase the effectiveness of dolutegravir in patients with integrase resistance and limited treatment options due to advanced multi-class resistance. The proportion of responders (HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL) at week 24 was predicted to increase around 4-18% in the subjects with Q148 + ≥2 secondary mutations from G140A/C/S, E138A/K/T, L74I. Although these simulated results have not been confirmed in clinical trials, this high dose may be considered in the presence of the Q148 + ≥2 secondary mutations from G140A/C/S, E138A/K/T, L74I in patients with overall limited treatment options due to advanced multi-class resistance. There is no clinical data on the safety or efficacy of the 100 mg twice daily dose. Co-treatment with atazanavir increases the exposure of dolutegravir markedly, and should not be used in combination with this high dose, since safety with the resulting dolutegravir exposure has not been established.
Special patient populations: Children: The pharmacokinetics of TIVICAY film-coated tablets (FCT) and dispersible tablets (DT) in HIV-1 infected infants, children and adolescents aged ≥4 weeks to <18 years were evaluated in two ongoing studies (P1093/ING112578 and ODYSSEY/201296). The bioavailability of TIVICAY DT is ̴ 1.6 fold TIVICAY FCT. Steady state plasma exposure at weight band doses are summarized in Table 6. (See Table 6.)

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Elderly: Population pharmacokinetic analysis of dolutegravir using data in HIV-1-infected adults showed that there was no clinically relevant effect of age on dolutegravir exposure.
Pharmacokinetic data for dolutegravir in subjects >65 years of age are limited.
Renal impairment: Renal clearance of unchanged active substance is a minor pathway of elimination for dolutegravir. A study of the pharmacokinetics of a single 50 mg dose of dolutegravir film-coated tablets was performed in subjects with severe renal impairment (CLcr <30 mL/min) and matched healthy controls. The exposure to dolutegravir was decreased by approximately 40% in subjects with severe renal impairment. The mechanism for the decrease is unknown. No dosage adjustment is considered necessary for patients with renal impairment. Tivicay has not been studied in patients on dialysis, though differences in exposure are not expected.
Hepatic impairment: Dolutegravir is primarily metabolized and eliminated by the liver. A single dose of 50 mg of dolutegravir was administered to 8 subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) and to 8 matched healthy adult controls. While the total dolutegravir concentration in plasma was similar, a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in unbound exposure to dolutegravir was observed in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment compared to healthy controls. No dosage adjustment is considered necessary for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. The effect of severe hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of Tivicay has not been studied.
Polymorphisms in drug metabolising enzymes: There is no evidence that common polymorphisms in drug metabolising enzymes alter dolutegravir pharmacokinetics to a clinically meaningful extent. In a meta-analysis using pharmacogenomics samples collected in clinical studies in healthy subjects, subjects with UGT1A1 (n=7) genotypes conferring poor dolutegravir metabolism had a 32% lower clearance of dolutegravir and 46% higher AUC compared with subjects with genotypes associated with normal metabolism via UGT1A1 (n=41).
Gender: Population PK analyses using pooled pharmacokinetic data from Phase IIb and Phase III adult trials revealed no clinically relevant effect of gender on the exposure of dolutegravir.
Race: Population PK analyses using pooled pharmacokinetic data from Phase IIb and Phase III adult trials revealed no clinically relevant effect of race on the exposure of dolutegravir. The pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir following single dose oral administration to Japanese subjects appear similar to observed parameters in Western (US) subjects.
Co-infection with Hepatitis B or C: Population pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that hepatitis C virus co-infection had no clinically relevant effect on the exposure to dolutegravir. There are limited data on subjects with hepatitis B co-infection.
Toxicology: Preclinical safety data: Dolutegravir was not mutagenic or clastogenic using in vitro tests in bacteria and cultured mammalian cells, and an in vivo rodent micronucleus assay. Dolutegravir was not carcinogenic in long-term studies in the mouse and rat.
Dolutegravir did not affect male or female fertility in rats at doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day, the highest dose tested (24 times the 50 mg twice daily human clinical exposure based on AUC).
Oral administration of dolutegravir to pregnant rats at doses up to 1000 mg/kg daily from days 6 to 17 of gestation did not elicit maternal toxicity, developmental toxicity or teratogenicity (27 times the 50 mg twice daily human clinical exposure based on AUC).
Oral administration of dolutegravir to pregnant rabbits at doses up to 1000 mg/kg daily from days 6 to 18 of gestation did not elicit developmental toxicity or teratogenicity (0.40 times the 50 mg twice daily human clinical exposure based on AUC). In rabbits, maternal toxicity (decreased food consumption, scant/no faeces/urine, suppressed body weight gain) was observed at 1000 mg/kg (0.40 times the 50 mg twice daily human clinical exposure based on AUC).
In a juvenile toxicity study in rats, dolutegravir administration resulted in two preweanling deaths at 75 mg/kg/day. Over the preweaning treatment period, mean body weight gain was decreased in this group and the decrease persisted throughout the entire study for females during the postweaning period. The systemic exposure at this dose (based on AUC) to dolutegravir was ~17-20-fold higher than humans at the recommended pediatric exposure. There were no new target organs identified in juveniles compared to adults. In the rat pre/post-natal development study, decreased body weight of the developing offspring was observed during lactation at a maternally toxic dose (approximately 27 times human exposure at the maximum recommended human dose).
The effect of prolonged daily treatment with high doses of dolutegravir has been evaluated in repeat oral dose toxicity studies in rats (up to 26 weeks) and in monkeys (up to 38 weeks). The primary effect of dolutegravir was gastrointestinal intolerance or irritation in rats and monkeys at doses that produce systemic exposures approximately 21 and 0.82 times the 50 mg twice daily human clinical exposure based on AUC, respectively. Because gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance is considered to be due to local active substance administration, mg/kg or mg/m² metrics are appropriate determinants of safety cover for this toxicity. GI intolerance in monkeys occurred at 15 times the human mg/kg equivalent dose (based on a 50 kg human), and 5 times the human mg/m² equivalent dose for a clinical dose of 50 mg twice daily.

Tivicay is indicated in combination with other anti-retroviral medicinal products for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected adults and children aged at least 6 years.

Tivicay should be prescribed by physicians experienced in the management of HIV infection.
Posology: Adults: Patients infected with HIV-1 without documented or clinically suspected resistance to the integrase class: The recommended dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg (one tablet) orally once daily.
Tivicay should be administered twice daily in this population when co-administered with some medicines (e.g. efavirenz, nevirapine, tipranavir/ritonavir, or rifampicin). Refer to Interactions.
Patients infected with HIV-1 with resistance to the integrase class (documented or clinically suspected): The recommended dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg (one tablet) twice daily.
In the presence of documented resistance that includes Q148 + ≥2 secondary mutations from G140A/C/S, E138A/K/T, L74I, modelling suggests that an increased dose may be considered for patients with limited treatment options (less than 2 active agents) due to advanced multi class resistance (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
The decision to use dolutegravir for such patients should be informed by the integrase resistance pattern (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Adolescents: In adolescents (12 to less than 18 years of age and weighing greater than or equal to 20 kg) infected with HIV-1 without resistance to the integrase class, the recommended dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg once daily. In the presence of integrase inhibitor resistance, there are insufficient data to recommend a dose for dolutegravir in adolescents.
Children aged at least 6 years and weighing at least 20 kg: In patients infected with HIV-1 without resistance to the integrase class, (6 to less than 12 years of age and weighing at least 20 kg), the recommended dose of dolutegravir film-coated tablets is 50 mg once daily.
There is insufficient and efficacy data available to recommend a dose for dolutegravir 50 mg film-coated tablets in children below age 6 or weighing less than 20 kg.
There is insufficient data to recommend a dose of dolutegravir film-coated tablets in integrase inhibitor resistance children.
Missed doses: If the patient misses a dose of Tivicay, the patient should take Tivicay as soon as possible, provided the next dose is not due within 4 hours. If the next dose is due within 4 hours, the patient should not take the missed dose and simply resume the usual dosing schedule.
Elderly: There are limited data available on the use of dolutegravir in patients aged 65 years and over. There is no evidence that elderly patients require a different dose than younger adult patients (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Renal impairment: No dosage adjustment is required in patients with mild, moderate or severe (CrCl <30 mL/min, not on dialysis) renal impairment. Limited data are available in subjects receiving dialysis, although differences in pharmacokinetics are not expected in this population (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Hepatic impairment: No dosage adjustment is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh grade A or B). No data are available in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh grade C); therefore, dolutegravir should be used with caution in these patients (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Paediatric population: The safety and efficacy of Tivicay in children aged less than 6 years or weighing less than 20 kg has not yet been established. In the presence of integrase inhibitor resistance, there are insufficient data to recommend a dose for Tivicay in children and adolescents. Currently available data are described in Adverse Reactions, Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics under Actions, but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Method of administration: Oral use.
Tivicay can be taken with or without food (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions). In the presence of integrase class resistance, Tivicay should preferably be taken with food to enhance exposure (particularly in patients with Q148 mutations) (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).

There is currently limited experience with overdosage in dolutegravir.
Limited experience of single higher doses (up to 250 mg film-coated tablets in healthy subjects) revealed no specific symptoms or signs, apart from those listed as adverse reactions.
Further management should be as clinically indicated or as recommended by the national poisons centre, where available. There is no specific treatment for an overdose of dolutegravir. If overdose occurs, the patient should be treated supportively with appropriate monitoring, as necessary. As dolutegravir is highly bound to plasma proteins, it is unlikely that it will be significantly removed by dialysis.

TIVICAY must not be administered concurrently with medicinal products with narrow therapeutic windows, that are substrates of organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), including but not limited to dofetilide, pilsicainide or fampridine (also known as dalfampridine; see Interactions).
TIVICAY is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to dolutegravir or to any of the excipients.

Integrase class resistance of particular concern: The decision to use dolutegravir in the presence of integrase class resistance should take into account that the activity of dolutegravir is considerably compromised for viral strains harbouring Q148+≥2 secondary mutations from G140A/C/S, E138A/K/T, L74I (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions). To what extent dolutegravir provides added efficacy in the presence of such integrase class resistance is uncertain (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Hypersensitivity reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with dolutegravir and were characterized by rash, constitutional findings, and sometimes, organ dysfunction, including severe liver reactions. Dolutegravir and other suspect agents should be discontinued immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop (including, but not limited to, severe rash or rash accompanied by raised liver enzymes, fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, facial oedema, eosinophilia, angioedema). Clinical status including liver aminotransferases and bilirubin should be monitored. Delay in stopping treatment with dolutegravir or other suspect active substances after the onset of hypersensitivity may result in a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Immune Reactivation Syndrome: In HIV-infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of institution of combination antiretroviral therapy (CART), an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic pathogens may arise and cause serious clinical conditions, or aggravation of symptoms. Typically, such reactions have been observed within the first few weeks or months of initiation of CART. Relevant examples are cytomegalovirus retinitis, generalised and/or focal mycobacterial infections, and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Any inflammatory symptoms should be evaluated and treatment instituted when necessary. Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves' disease) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reconstitution, however, the reported time to onset is more variable and these events can occur many months after initiation of treatment.
Liver biochemistry elevations consistent with immune reconstitution syndrome were observed in some hepatitis B and/or C co-infected patients at the start of dolutegravir therapy. Monitoring of liver biochemistries is recommended in patients with hepatitis B and/or C co-infection. Particular diligence should be applied in initiating or maintaining effective hepatitis B therapy (referring to treatment guidelines) when starting dolutegravir-based therapy in hepatitis B co-infected patients (see Adverse Reactions).
Opportunistic infections: Patients should be advised that dolutegravir or any other antiretroviral therapy does not cure HIV infection and that they may still develop opportunistic infections and other complications of HIV infection. Therefore, patients should remain under close clinical observation by physicians experienced in the treatment of these associated HIV diseases.
Drug interactions: Factors that decrease dolutegravir exposure should be avoided in the presence of integrase class resistance. This includes co-administration with medicinal products that reduce dolutegravir exposure (e.g. magnesium/aluminium-containing antacid, iron and calcium supplements, multivitamins and inducing agents, etravirine (without boosted protease inhibitors), tipranavir/ritonavir, rifampicin, St. John's wort and certain anti-epileptic medicinal products) (see Interactions). In paediatric patients, the weight-based once daily dose should be administered twice daily.
Dolutegravir increased metformin concentrations. A dose adjustment of metformin should be considered when starting and stopping coadministration of dolutegravir with metformin, to maintain glycaemic control (see Interactions). Metformin is eliminated renally and therefore it is of importance to monitor renal function when co-treated with dolutegravir. This combination may increase the risk for lactic acidosis in patients with moderate renal impairment (stage 3a creatinine clearance [CrCl] 45-59 mL/min) and a cautious approach is recommended. Reduction of the metformin dose should be highly considered.
Osteonecrosis: Although the aetiology is considered to be multifactorial (including corticosteroid use, biphosphonates, alcohol consumption, severe immunosuppression, higher body mass index), cases of osteonecrosis have been reported in patients with advanced HIV disease and/or long-term exposure to CART. Patients should be advised to seek medical advice if they experience joint aches and pain, joint stiffness or difficulty in movement.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Patients should be informed that dizziness has been reported during treatment with dolutegravir. The clinical status of the patient and the adverse reaction profile of dolutegravir should be borne in mind when considering the patient's ability to drive or operate machinery.

Pregnancy: TIVICAY should be used during pregnancy only if the expected benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) should be informed about the potential risk of neural tube defects with dolutegravir and counselled about the use of effective contraception. It is recommended that pregnancy testing is conducted prior to initiation of TIVICAY. If there are plans to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed within the first trimester while on TIVICAY, the risks and benefits of continuing TIVICAY versus switching to another antiretroviral regimen should be discussed with the patient. Factors to consider should include feasibility of switching, tolerability, ability to maintain viral suppression, actual gestational age, risk of transmission to the infant and the available data around the potential risk of neural tube defects and other pregnancy outcomes for dolutegravir and alternative antiretroviral drugs.
In a birth outcome surveillance study in Botswana, numerically higher rate of neural tube defects was identified with exposure to dolutegravir compared to non-dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral regimens at the time of conception, however, the difference was not statistically significant. Seven cases of neural tube defects were reported in 3,591 deliveries (0.19%) to mothers taking dolutegravir-containing regimens at the time of conception, compared with 21 cases in 19,361 deliveries (0.11%) to mothers taking non-dolutegravir-containing regimens at the time of conception (Prevalence Difference 0.09%; 95% CI 0.03, 0.30).
In the same study, an increased risk of neural tube defects was not identified in women who started dolutegravir during pregnancy. Two out of 4,448 deliveries (0.04%) to mothers who started dolutegravir during pregnancy had a neural tube defect, compared with five out of 6,478 deliveries (0.07%) to mothers who started non-dolutegravir-containing regimens during pregnancy.
A causal relationship of these events to the use of dolutegravir has not been established. The incidence of neural tube defects in the general population ranges from 0.5-1 case per 1,000 live births. As most neural tube defects occur within the first 4 weeks of foetal development (approximately 6 weeks after the last menstrual period) this potential risk would concern women exposed to dolutegravir at the time of conception and in early pregnancy.
Data analysed to date from other sources including the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry, clinical trials, and post-marketing data are insufficient to address the risk of neural tube defects with dolutegravir.
More than 1,000 outcomes from second and third trimester exposure in pregnant women indicate no evidence of increased risk of adverse birth outcomes.
In animal reproductive toxicity studies, no adverse development outcomes, including neural tube defects, were identified (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).
TIVICAY use during pregnancy has been evaluated in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR) in over 600 women (as of July 2019). Available human data from the APR do not show an increased risk of major birth defects for dolutegravir compared to the background rate (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Dolutegravir readily crosses the placenta in humans. In HIV-infected pregnant women, the median (range) foetal umbilical cord concentrations of dolutegravir were 1.28 (1.21 to 1.28) fold greater compared with maternal peripheral plasma concentrations.
There is insufficient information on the effects of TIVICAY on neonates.
Breast-feeding: Dolutegravir is excreted in human milk in small amounts. In an open-label randomised study in which HIV-infected treatment-naïve pregnant women were administered a dolutegravir-based regimen until two weeks post-partum, the median (range) dolutegravir breast milk to maternal plasma ratio was 0.033 (0.021 to 0.050). It is recommended that HIV infected women do not breast-feed their infants under any circumstances in order to avoid transmission of HIV.
Fertility: There are no data on the effects of dolutegravir on human male or female fertility. Animal studies indicate no effects of dolutegravir on male or female fertility (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).

Summary of the safety profile: The most severe adverse reaction, seen in an individual patient, was a hypersensitivity reaction that included rash and severe liver effects (see Precautions). The most commonly seen treatment-emergent adverse reactions were nausea (13%), diarrhoea (18%) and headache (13%).
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: The adverse reactions considered at least possibly related to dolutegravir are listed by body system, organ class and absolute frequency. Frequencies are defined as very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000). (See Table 7.)

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Description of selected adverse reactions: Changes in laboratory biochemistries: Increases in serum creatinine occurred within the first week of treatment with dolutegravir and remained stable through 48 weeks. A mean change from baseline of 9.96 μmol/L was observed after 48 weeks of treatment. Creatinine increases were comparable by various background regimens. These changes are not considered to be clinically relevant since they do not reflect a change in glomerular filtration rate.
Co-infection with Hepatitis B or C: In Phase III studies, patients with hepatitis B and/or C co-infection were permitted to enrol provided that baseline liver chemistry tests did not exceed 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). Overall, the safety profile in patients co-infected with hepatitis B and/or C was similar to that observed in patients without hepatitis B or C co-infection, although the rates of AST and ALT abnormalities were higher in the subgroup with hepatitis B and/or C co-infection for all treatment groups. Liver chemistry elevations consistent with immune reconstitution syndrome were observed in some subjects with hepatitis B and/or C co-infection at the start of dolutegravir therapy, particularly in those whose anti-hepatitis B therapy was withdrawn (see Precautions).
Immune response syndrome: In HIV-infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (CART), an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic infections may arise. Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves' disease) have also been reported; however, the reported time to onset is more variable and these events can occur many months after initiation of treatment (see Precautions).
Paediatric population: Based on data from the ongoing P1093 (ING112578) and ODYSSEY (201296) studies in 172 infants, children and adolescents (aged at least 4 weeks to less than 18 years, and weighing atleast 3 kg) who received the recommended doses of either film-coated tablets or dispersible tablets once daily, there were no additional types of adverse reactions beyond those observed in the adult population.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system. In Malaysia, healthcare professionals may report any suspected adverse reactions to the Centre for Compliance and Quality Control by visiting the website www.npra.moh.gov.my [Reporting Side Effects to Medicines (ConSERF) or Vaccines (AEFI)].

Effect of other agents on the pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir: All factors that decrease dolutegravir exposure should be avoided in the presence of integrase class resistance.
Dolutegravir is eliminated mainly through metabolism by UGT1A1. Dolutegravir is also a substrate of UGT1A3, UGT1A9, CYP3A4, Pgp, and BCRP; therefore, medicinal products that induce those enzymes may decrease dolutegravir plasma concentration and reduce the therapeutic effect of dolutegravir (see Table 8). Co-administration of dolutegravir and other medicinal products that inhibit these enzymes may increase dolutegravir plasma concentration (see Table 8).
The absorption of dolutegravir is reduced by certain anti-acid agents (see Table 8).
Effect of dolutegravir on the pharmacokinetics of other agents: In vivo, dolutegravir did not have an effect on midazolam, a CYP3A4 probe. Based on in vivo and/or in vitro data, dolutegravir is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of medicinal products that are substrates of any major enzyme or transporter such as CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and P-gp (for more information, see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
In vitro, dolutegravir inhibited the renal organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE) 1. In vivo, a 10-14% decrease of creatinine clearance (secretory fraction is dependent on OCT2 and MATE-1 transport) was observed in patients. In vivo, dolutegravir may increase plasma concentrations of medicinal products in which excretion is dependent upon OCT2 or MATE-1 (for example dofetilide, pilsicainide, fampridine [also known as dalfampridine] or metformin) (see Table 8).
In vitro, dolutegravir inhibited the renal uptake transporters, organic anion transporters (OAT1) and OAT3. Based on the lack of effect on the in vivo pharmacokinetics of the OAT substrate tenofovir, in vivo inhibition of OAT1 is unlikely. Inhibition of OAT3 has not been studied in vivo. Dolutegravir may increase plasma concentrations of medical products in which excretion is dependent upon OAT3.
Established and theoretical interactions with selected antiretrovirals and non-antiretroviral medicinal products are listed in Table 8.
Interaction table: Interactions between dolutegravir and co-administered medicinal products are listed in Table 8 (increase is indicated as "↑", decrease as "↓", no change as "↔", area under the concentration versus time curve as "AUC", maximum observed concentration as "C_max", concentration at end of dosing interval as "Cτ"). (See Table 8.)

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Paediatric population: Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.

Incompatibilities: No incompatibilities have been identified.
Special precautions for disposal: No special requirements for disposal.

Do not store above 30°C.

Antivirals

J05AJ03 - dolutegravir ; Belongs to the class of integrase inhibitors. Used as direct acting antiviral in the systemic treatment of viral infections.

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