Rilpivirine

What it is used for

EDURANT and EDURANT PED are a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) specific, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve patients 2 years of age and older and weighing at least 14 kg with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL.

Limitations of Use: More EDURANT treated subjects with HIV-1 RNA greater than 100,000 copies/mL at the start of therapy experienced virologic failure (HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL) compared to EDURANT treated subjects with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL. ( 1.1, 14 ) EDURANT is indicated in combination with VOCABRIA (cabotegravir), for short-term treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents 12 years and older and weighing at least 35 kg who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) on a stable regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

Treatment of HIV-1 in Treatment-Naïve Patients EDURANT and EDURANT PED, in combination with other antiretroviral agents, is indicated for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in antiretroviral treatment-naïve patients 2 years of age and older and weighing at least 14 kg with plasma HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL at the start of therapy.

Limitations of Use More EDURANT treated subjects with HIV-1 RNA greater than 100,000 copies/mL at the start of therapy experienced virologic failure (HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL) compared to EDURANT treated subjects with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL. Treatment of HIV-1 in Combination with Cabotegravir EDURANT is indicated in combination with VOCABRIA (cabotegravir) for short-term treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents 12 years and older and weighing at least 35 kg who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine, for use as: oral lead-in to assess the tolerability of rilpivirine prior to administration of rilpivirine extended-release injectable suspension, a component of CABENUVA (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension; rilpivirine extended-release injectable suspension).

oral therapy for patients who will miss planned injection dosing with CABENUVA (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension; rilpivirine extended-release injectable suspension).

Side effects, and when to stop

The following adverse reactions are discussed below and in other sections of the labeling:

• Skin and Hypersensitivity Reactions

• Hepatotoxicity

• Depressive Disorders

Who should not take it

Rilpivirine is contraindicated for coadministration with the drugs in Table 2 for which significant decreases in rilpivirine plasma concentrations may occur due to CYP3A enzyme induction or gastric pH increase, which may result in loss of virologic response and possible resistance to rilpivirine or to the class of NNRTIs.

Other medicines and interactions

Rilpivirine is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A, and drugs that induce or inhibit CYP3A may thus affect the clearance of rilpivirine. Coadministration of rilpivirine and drugs that induce CYP3A may result in decreased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine and loss of virologic response and possible resistance to rilpivirine or to the class of NNRTIs. Coadministration of rilpivirine and drugs that inhibit CYP3A may result in increased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine. Coadministration of rilpivirine with drugs that increase gastric pH may result in decreased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine and loss of virologic response and possible resistance to rilpivirine or to the class of NNRTIs.

Rilpivirine at the recommended doses are not likely to have a clinically relevant effect on the exposure of drugs metabolized by CYP enzymes.

Table 6 shows the established and other potentially significant drug interactions based on which alterations in dose or regimen of rilpivirine and/or coadministered drug may be recommended. Drugs that are not recommended for coadministration with rilpivirine are also included in Table 6.

In addition to the drugs included in Table 6, the interaction between rilpivirine and the following drugs was evaluated in clinical studies and no dose adjustment is needed for either drug: acetaminophen, atorvastatin, chlorzoxazone, cabotegravir, ethinylestradiol, norethindrone, raltegravir, sildenafil, simeprevir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Rilpivirine did not have a clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin or metformin. No clinically relevant drug-drug interaction is expected when rilpivirine is coadministered with maraviroc, ribavirin or the NRTIs abacavir, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine and zidovudine.

QT Prolonging Drugs

There is limited information available on the potential for a pharmacodynamic interaction between rilpivirine and drugs that prolong the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram. In a study of healthy subjects, 75 mg once daily and 300 mg once daily (3 times and 12 times the dose in rilpivirine) have been shown to prolong the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram. Consider alternatives to rilpivirine when coadministered with a drug with a known risk of torsade de pointes.