Study of Doravirine/Islatravir (DOR/ISL 100 mg/0.75 mg) to Evaluate the Antiretroviral Activity, Safety, and Tolerability in Treatment-Naïve Participants With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infection (MK-8591A-020)

Purpose

This is a phase 3, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multisite clinical study of a once-daily fixed dose combination (FDC) of 100 mg doravirine/0.75 mg islatravir (DOR/ISL [also known as MK-8591A]) in treatment-naïve participants with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection. The primary objectives are to evaluate the antiretroviral activity, safety, and tolerability of DOR/ISL compared to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF). The primary hypothesis is that DOR/ISL is noninferior or superior to BIC/FTC/TAF treatment based on the percentage of participants with HIV-1 ribonucleic acid (RNA) <50 copies/mL at Week 48.

Condition

  • HIV-1 Infection

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Is human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) positive - Is naïve to antiretroviral therapy (ART) defined as having received ≤10 days of prior therapy with any antiretroviral agent following a diagnosis of HIV-1 infection including prevention of mother-to-child transmission up to 1 month prior to screening. - A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies: 1) Is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP); 2) Is a WOCBP and using an acceptable contraceptive method, or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis); 3) A WOCBP must have a negative highly sensitive pregnancy test ([urine or serum] as required by local regulations) within 24 hours before the first dose of study intervention; 4) If a urine test cannot be confirmed as negative (eg, an ambiguous result), a serum pregnancy test is required

Exclusion Criteria

  • Has HIV-2 infection - Has hypersensitivity or other contraindication to any of the components of the study interventions as determined by the investigator - Has an active diagnosis of hepatitis due to any cause, including active HBV infection (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive or hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid [HBV DNA]-positive) - Has a history of malignancy ≤5 years prior to signing informed consent except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma - Has a history or current evidence of any condition (including active tuberculosis infection), therapy, laboratory abnormality or other circumstance (including drug or alcohol use or dependence) that might, in the opinion of the investigator, confound the results of the study or interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study - Has been treated for a viral infection other than HIV-1, such as hepatitis B, with an agent that is active against HIV-1 - Is taking or is anticipated to require systemic immunosuppressive therapy, immune modulators, or any prohibited therapy from 45 days prior to Day 1 through the study intervention period - Is currently participating in or has participated in a clinical study with an investigational compound or device from 45 days prior to Day 1 through the study intervention period - Has a documented or known virologic resistance to any approved HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or any study intervention - Has exclusionary laboratory values within 45 days prior to Day 1 - Is female and is expecting to conceive or donate eggs at any time during the study

Study Design

Phase
Phase 3
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Group 1: DOR/ISL 		Treatment-naïve participants with HIV-1 receive blinded DOR/ISL and placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF once daily (QD) from Day 1 to Week 96, and open-label DOR/ISL up to Week 144. Participants who are benefitting from treatment are then eligible to continue on open-label DOR/ISL up to Week 168.
  • Drug: DOR/ISL
    100 mg DOR/0.75 mg ISL FDC tablet taken once daily by mouth.
    Other names:
    • MK-8591A
    • Doravirine/islatravir
  • Drug: Placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF
    Placebo tablet matched to BIC/FTC/TAF taken by mouth.
Active Comparator
Group 2: BIC/FTC/TAF 		Treatment-naïve participants with HIV-1 receive blinded BIC/FTC/TAF and placebo to DOR/ISL QD from Day 1 to Week 96, and open-label BIC/FTC/TAF up to Week 144. Participants who are benefitting from treatment are then eligible to continue on open-label BIC/FTC/TAF up to Week 168.
  • Drug: BIC/FTC/TAF
    BIC/FTC/TAF 50/200/25 mg FDC tablet taken once daily by mouth.
    Other names:
    • Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide
  • Drug: Placebo to DOR/ISL
    Placebo tablet matched to DOR/ISL taken by mouth.

More Details

Status
Active, not recruiting
Sponsor
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Study Contact

Detailed Description

Double-blind treatment with the assigned intervention occurs from Day 1 to Week 96, followed by an open-label portion up to Week 144. Participants who benefit from treatment in the opinion of the Investigator may continue their assigned intervention up to Week 168 (or until they have the option to enroll in a DOR/ISL 100 mg/0.25 mg study, whichever is sooner).