Pharmacology of HIV Treatment and Antivirals Against Hepatitis Viruses

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Immunology, Vaccines, and Antivirals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2025) | Viewed by 797

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Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Interests: HIV therapy; HIV/viral hepatitis coinfection; metabolic-associated steatosic liver disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Therapies for HIV infection as well as hepatitis C have significantly evolved in recent years. Newer antiretrovirals have overcome significant obstacles such as side effects, high daily pill burden, lack of efficacy, resistances, or limited access to therapy, and now, most patients receive simple therapies, mostly consisting of single-tablet regimens or long-acting injectable drugs, achieving long-lasting virological response. Furthermore, HIV might also benefit from monoclonal antibodies, which may dramatically change HIV therapy as we currently know it. Direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C infection have radically changed the lives of millions of patients worldwide, achieving a remarkable efficacy with short, simple treatment regimens. This therapeutic revolution has turned a complex chronic infection with limited treatment options into an eradicable disease, as seen in several population-scale trials. The development of new antivirals against hepatitis B and D brings hope for so many patients who are still waiting for novel strategies that may provide a cure for this infection.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide updated information on new antiretrovirals and antivirals against hepatitis viruses, as well as newer treatment strategies and drug delivery methods.

Dr. José Vicente Fernández-Montero
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • long-acting injectable antiretrovirals
  • broadly neutralizing antibodies
  • direct-acting antivirals
  • entry inhibitors
  • drug administration
  • HIV-2
  • HTLV
  • antiviral drugs
  • HIV and viral hepatitis vaccines

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 592 KiB  
Article
Simplification with Boosted Protease Inhibitor-Based ART Versus Maintenance of Conventional ART: Results from a Five-Year Controlled Cohort
by Mateus Swarovsky Helfer, Guilherme Carvalho Serena, Tarsila Vieceli and Eduardo Sprinz
Viruses 2025, 17(6), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17060751 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 421
Abstract
Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) simplification is increasingly common, although some patients cannot take this drug due to intolerance or drug resistance. Boosted-protease inhibitors (bPI) might be an option in this scenario. Nevertheless, long-term outcomes have not been studied yet. A controlled cohort study [...] Read more.
Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) simplification is increasingly common, although some patients cannot take this drug due to intolerance or drug resistance. Boosted-protease inhibitors (bPI) might be an option in this scenario. Nevertheless, long-term outcomes have not been studied yet. A controlled cohort study comparing 5-year outcomes of ART simplification bPI-based regimens (without integrase strand transfer inhibitor—INSTI) versus ART maintenance was conducted in a Brazilian referral center. Viral suppression rates and mortality after 5 years were the primary outcomes of the study. Eighty individuals were included in each group; 47.5% were women, and the mean age was 56 years. The five-year survival rate was 88.8% in the simplified group and 87.5% in the maintenance arm (log-rank = 0.41). Viral suppression rate was 78.8% and 70.0%, respectively (p = 0.28). Individuals presented less renal function decline (−5 vs. −10 mL/min/1.73 m2; p < 0.05) in the simplified arm. No difference was observed in metabolic parameters. Based on our findings, ART simplification without INSTI has shown efficacy and safety comparable to maintenance of triple therapy even in the long term, and could be an option in these situations, which might be even more important in settings with limited options. Full article
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