Juluca (dolutegravir sodium/rilpivirine HCl)

Antiviral-HIV (Antiretroviral) Nonnucleoside RT Inhibitor Oral Tablet

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

Overview

Dolutegravir sodium and rilpivirine hydrochloride (dolutegravir/rilpivirine) is a fixed-combination antiretroviral agent containing dolutegravir (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)) and rilpivirine (HIV nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)).

Dolutegravir sodium and rilpivirine hydrochloride (dolutegravir/rilpivirine) is a fixed combination containing 2 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antiretrovirals. Dolutegravir is an HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) and rilpivirine is a diarylpyrimidine HIV nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). There is no in vitro evidence of antagonistic anti-HIV effects between dolutegravir and rilpivirine.

Dolutegravir binds to the active site of HIV integrase and blocks the strand transfer step of retroviral DNA integration, which is essential for HIV replication. Dolutegravir is active against HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and also has in vitro activity against HIV type 2 (HIV-2).

Rilpivirine noncompetitively inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. HIV-2 is intrinsically resistant to NNRTIs.

Strains of HIV-1 resistant to dolutegravir or rilpivirine have been produced in vitro and have emerged during clinical use. In clinical studies evaluating a 2-drug regimen of dolutegravir and rilpivirine in antiretroviral-experienced adults, virologic failure during treatment with the regimen was reported in 12 patients, of which 10 had post-baseline resistance data. Six isolates showed genotypic and/or phenotypic resistance to rilpivirine with emergent NNRTI resistance substitutions E138E/A, M230M/L, L100L/I, K101Q, E138A, K101K/E, M230M/L, L100L/V/M, and M230M/L.

In addition, 1 patient had NNRTI-resistance substitutions K103N and V179I with rilpivirine phenotypic fold change of 5.2 but had no baseline sample. Two isolates showed evidence of dolutegravir resistance substitutions. One isolate had emergent INSTI-resistance substitution V151V/I present post-baseline with baseline INSTI-resistance substitutions N155N/H and G163G/R, but no integrase phenotypic data were available at virologic failure.

The other patient had the dolutegravir-resistance substitution G193E at baseline and virologic failure, but no detectable phenotypic resistance. Cross-resistance occurs among HIV NNRTIs. Cross-resistance to efavirenz, etravirine, and/or nevirapine is likely after virologic failure and development of resistance to rilpivirine.

The effect of dolutegravir/rilpivirine on the QT interval has not been studied. Following oral administration of dolutegravir, peak plasma concentrations of the drug are attained 3 hours after a dose. Administration with a moderate- or high-fat meal increases the AUC of dolutegravir by approximately 1.9-fold; this effect is not considered clinically important.

Dolutegravir is metabolized primarily by uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1; cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A plays only a minor role in metabolism of the drug. Following an oral dose of dolutegravir, 64% of the dose is eliminated in feces (53% as unchanged drug) and 31% is eliminated in urine as metabolites (<1% as unchanged drug). Dolutegravir has a plasma elimination half-life of 14 hours.

In vitro studies indicate that dolutegravir is approximately 99% bound to plasma proteins.

Following oral administration of rilpivirine, peak plasma concentrations of the drug are generally attained 4 hours after a dose. Administration with a moderate- or high-fat meal increases the AUC of rilpivirine by approximately 1.6- or 1.7-fold, respectively. If taken with only a protein-rich nutritional drink, rilpivirine exposures are 50% lower than when taken with a meal.

Rilpivirine is primarily metabolized by CYP3A. Following an oral dose, 85% of the dose is eliminated in feces (25% as unchanged drug) and 6.5% is eliminated in urine (<1% as unchanged drug). The half-life of rilpivirine is 50 hours.

In vitro studies indicate that rilpivirine is approximately 99% bound to plasma proteins.

Population pharmacokinetic analyses from studies with the individual components of dolutegravir/rilpivirine have found that gender and race have no clinically important effect on the pharmacokinetics of either drug. Population pharmacokinetic analyses have not shown any clinically important effects on dolutegravir or rilpivirine exposures in HIV-infected individuals with HCV coinfection. Individuals with HBV coinfection were excluded from clinical studies evaluating dolutegravir/rilpivirine.

USES: Dolutegravir/rilpivirine 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.

Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor while rilpivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Both drugs block the virus from growing and infecting more cells. Dolutegravir/rilpivirine 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: dolutegravir sodium/rilpivirine HCl
Pronunciation: (DOE-loo-TEG-ra-vir/RIL-pi-VIR-een)
Drug class: Antiviral-HIV (Antiretroviral) Nonnucleoside RT Inhibitor
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 Juluca:

  • Hiv Infection

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

Dosing

Fixed-combination tablets of dolutegravir/rilpivirine contain dolutegravir sodium and rilpivirine hydrochloride; dosages are expressed in terms of dolutegravir and rilpivirine, respectively.

Each fixed-combination tablet of dolutegravir/rilpivirine contains 50 mg of dolutegravir and 25 mg of rilpivirine.

Drug interactions

Concomitant use of dolutegravir/rilpivirine and certain other drugs may result in known or potentially clinically important drug interactions, some of which may lead to loss of therapeutic effect of dolutegravir/rilpivirine and possible development of resistance or result in possible adverse effects from increased exposures of concomitant drugs.

Consider the potential for drug interactions prior to and during treatment; review concomitant drugs during dolutegravir/rilpivirine therapy and monitor the patient for adverse effects associated with concomitant drugs.

Because prolongation of the QT interval corrected for rate (QTc) has been reported in healthy individuals receiving rilpivirine in a dosage of 75 or 300 mg once daily (3 or 12 times higher, respectively, than the rilpivirine dose in dolutegravir/rilpivirine), consider use of alternative antiretrovirals in patients receiving a drug with a known risk of torsades de pointes.

The following drug interactions are based on studies using the individual components of the fixed combination of dolutegravir and rilpivirine (dolutegravir/rilpivirine) or are predicted to occur with the fixed combination. When dolutegravir/rilpivirine is used, consider interactions associated with both drugs in the fixed combination.

Contraindications

*Previous hypersensitivity reaction to dolutegravir or rilpivirine.

*Concomitant use with dofetilide due to potential for serious and/or life-threatening adverse effects resulting from increased dofetilide plasma concentrations.

*Concomitant use with drugs that induce cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A or drugs that elevate gastric pH since substantially decreased plasma rilpivirine concentrations may occur and may result in loss of virologic response; these drugs include certain anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin), certain antimycobacterials (rifampin, rifapentine), systemic dexamethasone (given in multiple doses), proton-pump inhibitors (e.g., esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole), and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Adverse reactions

Adverse effects reported in >=2% of patients receiving dolutegravir/rilpivirine include diarrhea, headache, and nausea.

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