Symtuza (darunavir eth/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide)

Antiviral-HIV (Antiretroviral) Protease Inhibitors Oral Tablet

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Darunavir ethanolate, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (DRV/c/FTC/TAF) is a fixed-combination antiretroviral agent containing darunavir (human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor), cobicistat (pharmacokinetic enhancer), emtricitabine (HIV-1 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor), and tenofovir alafenamide (HIV-1 nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor).

The fixed combination of darunavir ethanolate, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (DRV/c/FTC/TAF) contains an HIV-1 protease inhibitor (darunavir), a pharmacokinetic enhancer (cobicistat), an HIV-1 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (emtricitabine), and an HIV-1 nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (tenofovir alafenamide).

Darunavir selectively inhibits the cleavage of HIV-1 encoded Gag-Pol polyproteins in infected cells, thereby preventing the formation of mature virus particles.

Inhibition of CYP3A-mediated metabolism by cobicistat enhances the systemic exposure of CYP3A substrates.

Emtricitabine is phosphorylated by cellular enzymes to form emtricitabine 5'-triphosphate. Emtricitabine is inactive until converted intracellularly to an active 5'-triphosphate metabolite; after conversion, the drug inhibits the activity of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by competing with the natural substrate deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate and by being incorporated into nascent viral DNA, which results in chain termination.

Tenofovir alafenamide is a prodrug and is inactive until hydrolyzed intracellularly by cathepsin A to form tenofovir and subsequently metabolized by cellular kinases to the active metabolite (tenofovir diphosphate). Tenofovir diphosphate inhibits HIV-1 replication through incorporation into viral DNA by the HIV reverse transcriptase, which results in DNA chain-termination.

HIV-1 resistance to darunavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide has been produced in vitro. In clinical trials, darunavir resistance-associated substitutions in HIV-1 protease were derived from data in protease inhibitor-experienced patients. Baseline International AIDS Society-USA (IAS-USA)-defined PI resistance substitutions confer reduced virologic response to darunavir.

In the AMBER trial in subjects with no prior antiretroviral treatment history, no patients with virologic failure had detectable emergent darunavir resistance-associated substitutions or other primary protease inhibitor resistance-associated substitutions and only one patient had emergent M184M/I/V, which confers resistance to emtricitabine and lamivudine. In the EMERALD trial in virologically-suppressed subjects who switched to DRV/c/FTC/TAF, no patients with resistance genotypes had darunavir, primary protease inhibitor, emtricitabine, or tenofovir resistance-associated substitutions.

USES: This product is used to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life.

This product contains 4 different medications: darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide. Darunavir is known as a protease inhibitor. Cobicistat helps darunavir work better.

Emtricitabine is called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, while tenofovir alafenamide is called a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor; both kinds of drugs are often called NRTIs. Darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during sexual activity as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Generic name: darunavir eth/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide
Pronunciation: (dar-UE-na-vir/koe-BIK-i-stat/EM-trye-SYE-ta-been/ten-OF-oh-vir AL-a-FEN-a-mide)
Drug class: Antiviral-HIV (Antiretroviral) Protease Inhibitors
Therapeutic class: Anti-Infective Agents

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Symtuza:

  • Hiv Infection

Also known as: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Dosing

No dosing information is available for this tab.

Drug interactions

Drug interaction studies of co-administration of other drugs with the fixed combination of darunavir ethanolate, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (DRV/c/FTC/TAF) have not been conducted. Information on drug interactions is based on studies evaluating components of the fixed combination, as individual agents or in combination, or are predicted interactions. Drug interaction trials have been conducted with darunavir co-administered with ritonavir or cobicistat or with emtricitabine and tenofovir prodrugs. The label of each drug co-administered with the fixed combination of DRV/c/FTC/TAF should be consulted to determine the potential for a drug interaction and specific actions to be taken with regard to co-administration.

Darunavir and cobicistat are metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A. CYP2D6 plays a minor role in cobicistat metabolism. Darunavir co-administered with cobicistat is a CYP3A and CYP2D6 inhibitor. Cobicistat inhibits the following transporters: p-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (MATE1), organic anion transporter protein 1B1 (OATP1B1), and 1B3 (OATP1B3). In vitro and in vivo studies indicate cobicistat does not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP3A, MDR1.

In vitro and clinical drug interaction studies indicated that emtricitabine is not an inhibitor of CYP450 enzymes.

In vivo, tenofovir alafenamide is not an inhibitor or inducer of CYP3A. Tenofovir alafenamide is also not an inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, or UGT1A.

Contraindications

*Concomitant use with drugs highly dependent on cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A (CYP3A) for metabolism and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events (e.g., alfuzosin, ergot alkaloids, lovastatin, lurasidone, oral midazolam, pimozide, sildenafil used for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), simvastatin, triazolam) is contraindicated.

*Concomitant use with drugs that are inducers of CYP3A (e.g., carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)) is contraindicated, since these drugs may decrease darunavir or cobicistat concentrations resulting in possible decreased antiretroviral efficacy and development of resistance.

Adverse reactions

The most common adverse reactions (all grades, incidence >=2%) were diarrhea, rash, nausea, fatigue, headache, abdominal discomfort, and flatulence.

Precautions

No enhanced messaging available.

ICD codes

CodeTypeDescription
HIV infection
B20ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease
B97.35ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus, type 2 [HIV 2] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
O98.7ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
O98.71ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating pregnancy
O98.711ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating pregnancy, first trimester
O98.712ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating pregnancy, second trimester
O98.713ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating pregnancy, third trimester
O98.719ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating pregnancy, unspecified trimester
O98.72ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating childbirth
O98.73ICD10CMHuman immunodeficiency virus [HIv] disease complicating the puerperium
Z21ICD10CMAsymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIv] infection status

ICD code information from First Databank (FDB).

Formulary status

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data