DESCOVY SIDE EFFECTS
- Generic Name: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide tablets
- Brand Name: Descovy
SIDE EFFECTS
The following adverse reactions are discussed in other sections of the labeling:
- Severe Acute Exacerbations of Hepatitis B.
- Immune Reconstitution Syndrome.
- New Onset or Worsening Renal Impairment.
- Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis.
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug (or a drug given in various combinations with other concomitant therapy) cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug (or drug given in the same or different combination therapy) and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Adverse Reactions In Clinical Trials Of FTC+TAF With Elvitegravir (EVG) Plus Cobicistat (COBI) In Treatment-Naïve Adults With HIV-1 Infection
In pooled 48-week trials of antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected adult subjects, the most common adverse reaction in subjects treated with FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI (N=866) (incidence greater than or equal to 10%, all grades) was nausea (10%). In this treatment group, 0.9% of subjects discontinued FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI due to adverse events during the 48-week treatment period [see Clinical Studies]. The safety profile was similar in virologicallysuppressed adults with HIV-1 infection who were switched to FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI (N=799). Antiretroviral treatment-naïve adult subjects treated with FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI experienced mean increases of 30 mg/dL of total cholesterol, 15 mg/dL of LDL cholesterol, 7 mg/dL of HDL cholesterol, and 29 mg/dL of triglycerides after 48 weeks of use.
Renal Laboratory Tests
In two 48-week trials in antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected adults treated with FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI (N=866) with a median baseline eGFR of 115 mL per minute, mean serum creatinine increased by 0.1 mg per dL from baseline to Week 48. Median urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) was 44 mg per gram at baseline and at Week 48. In a 48-week trial in virologicallysuppressed TDF-treated adults who switched to FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI (N=959) with a mean baseline eGFR of 112 mL per minute, mean serum creatinine was similar to baseline at Week 48; median UPCR was 61 mg per gram at baseline and 46 mg per gram at Week 48. Across these trials, renal serious adverse events or discontinuations due to renal adverse reactions were encountered in less than 1% of participants treated with FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI.
In a 24-week trial in adults with renal impairment (baseline eGFR 30 to 69 mL per minute) who received FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI (N=248), mean serum creatinine was 1.5 mg per dL at both baseline and Week 24. Median UPCR was 161 mg per gram at baseline and 93 mg per gram at Week 24. FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI was permanently discontinued due to worsening renal function in two of 80 (3%) subjects.
Bone Mineral Density Effects
In the pooled analysis of two 48-week trials of antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV1 infected adult subjects, bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline to Week 48 was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Mean BMD decreased from baseline to Week 48 −1.30% with FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI at the lumbar spine and −0.66% at the total hip. BMD declines of 5% or greater at the lumbar spine were experienced by 10% of FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI subjects. BMD declines of 7% or greater at the femoral neck were experienced by 7% of FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI subjects. The long-term clinical significance of these BMD changes is not known.
In 799 virologically-suppressed TDF-treated adult subjects that switched to FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI, at Week 48 mean BMD increased (1.86% lumbar spine, 1.95% total hip). BMD declines of 5% or greater at the lumbar spine were experienced by 1% of FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI subjects. BMD declines of 7% or greater at the femoral neck were experienced by 1% of FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI subjects.
Adverse Reactions In A Clinical Trial Of FTC+TAF With EVG+COBI In Virologically-Suppressed Adults With End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Receiving Chronic Hemodialysis
In a 48-week trial of virologically-suppressed HIV-1 infected adult subjects with end stage renal disease (ESRD) (estimated creatinine clearance of less than 15 mL/min) on chronic hemodialysis treated with FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI (N=55), the most commonly reported adverse reaction (adverse event assessed as causally related by investigator and all grades) was nausea (7%). Serious adverse events were reported in 53% of subjects and the most common serious adverse events were pneumonia (13%), fluid overload (7%), hyperkalemia (7%) and osteomyelitis (7%). Overall 5% of subjects permanently discontinued treatment due to an adverse event.
Adverse Reactions In Clinical Trials In Pediatric Subjects With HIV-1 Infection
In an open-label trial of antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected pediatric subjects between the ages of 12 to less than 18 years weighing at least 35 kg through 48 weeks (N=50; Cohort 1) and virologically-suppressed subjects between the ages of 6 to less than 12 years weighing at least 25 kg (N=23; Cohort 2) who received FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI through 24 weeks, with the exception of a decrease in the mean CD4+ cell count observed in cohort 2, the safety of this combination was similar to that of adults.
Bone Mineral Density Effects
Cohort 1: Treatment-naïve adolescents (12 to less than 18 years; at least 35 kg)
Among the subjects in cohort 1 receiving FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI, mean BMD increased from baseline to Week 48, +4.2% at the lumbar spine and +1.3% for the total body less head (TBLH). Mean changes from baseline BMD Z-scores were −0.07 for lumbar spine and −0.20 for TBLH at Week 48. One subject had significant (at least 4%) lumbar spine BMD loss at Week 48.
Cohort 2: Virologically-suppressed children (6 to less than 12 years; at least 25 kg)
Among the subjects in cohort 2 receiving FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI, mean BMD increased from baseline to Week 24, +2.9% at the lumbar spine and +1.7% for TBLH. Mean changes from baseline BMD Z-scores were -0.06 for lumbar spine and -0.18 for TBLH at Week 24. Two subjects had significant (at least 4%) lumbar spine BMD loss at Week 24.
Change from Baseline in CD4+ cell counts
Cohort 2: Virologically-suppressed children (6 to less than 12 years; at least 25 kg)
Cohort 2 evaluated pediatric subjects (N=23) who were virologicallysuppressed and who switched from their antiretroviral regimen to FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI. Although all subjects had HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL, there was a decrease from baseline in CD4+ cell count at Week 24. The mean baseline and mean change from baseline in CD4+ cell count and in CD4% from Week 2 to Week 24 are presented in Table 1. All subjects maintained their CD4+ cell counts above 400 cells/mm3 [see Use In Specific Populations].
Table 1 Mean Change in CD4+ Count and Percentage from Baseline to Week 24 in Virologically-Suppressed Pediatric Patients from 6 to <12 Years Who Switched to FTC+TAF with EVG+COBI
Baseline | Mean Change from Baseline | ||||
Week 2 | Week 4 | Week 12 | Week 24 | ||
CD4+ Cell Count (cells/mm3) | 966 (201.7)a | -162 | -125 | -162 | -150 |
CD4% | 40 (5.3)a | +0.5% | -0.1% | -0.8% | -1.5% |
a. Mean (SD) |
Adverse Reactions From Clinical Trial Experience In HIV-1 Uninfected Individuals Taking DESCOVY For HIV-1 PrEP
The safety profile of DESCOVY for HIV-1 PrEP was comparable to that observed in clinical trials of HIV-infected subjects based on a double-blind, randomized, active-controlled trial (DISCOVER) in which a total of 5,387 HIV-1 uninfected adult men and transgender women who have sex with men received DESCOVY (N=2,694) or TRUVADA (N=2,693) once daily for HIV-1 PrEP [see Clinical Studies]. Median duration of exposure was 86 and 87 weeks, respectively. The most common adverse reaction in participants who received DESCOVY (incidence greater than or equal to 5%, all grades) was diarrhea (5%). Table 2 provides a list of the most common adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or more of participants in either treatment group. The proportion of participants who discontinued treatment with DESCOVY or TRUVADA due to adverse events, regardless of severity, was 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively.
Table 2 Adverse Reactions (All Grades) Reported in ≥2% in Either Arm in the DISCOVER Trial of HIV-1 Uninfected Participants
DESCOVY (N=2,694) |
TRUVADA (N=2,693) |
|
Diarrhea | 5% | 6% |
Nausea | 4% | 5% |
Headache | 2% | 2% |
Fatigue | 2% | 3% |
Abdominal paina | 2% | 3% |
a. Includes the following terms: abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, abdominal pain lower, gastrointestinal pain, and abdominal discomfort |
Renal Laboratory Tests
Changes from baseline to Week 48 in renal laboratory data are presented in Table 3. The long-term clinical significance of these renal laboratory changes on adverse reaction frequencies between DESCOVY and TRUVADA is not known.
Table 3 Laboratory Assessments of Renal Function Reported in HIV-1 Uninfected Participants Receiving DESCOVY orTRUVADA in the DISCOVER Trial
DESCOVY (N=2,694) |
TRUVADA (N=2,693) |
|
Serum Creatinine (mg/dL)a Change at Week 48 |
−0.01 (0.107) | 0.01 (0.111) |
eGFRCG (mL/min)b Change at Week 48 |
1.8 (−7.2, 11.1) | −2.3 (−10.8, 7.2) |
Percentage of Participants who Developed UPCR >200 mg/gc At Week 48 |
0.7% | 1.5% |
eGFRCG=estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate by Cockcroft-Gault; UPCR=urine protein/creatinine ratio a. Mean (SD). b. Median (Q1, Q3). c. Based on N who had normal UPCR (≤ 200 mg/g) at baseline. |
Bone Mineral Density Effects
In the DISCOVER trial, mean increases from baseline to Week 48 of 0.5% at the lumbar spine (N=159) and 0.2% at the total hip (N=158) were observed in participants receiving DESCOVY, compared to mean decreases of 1.1% at the lumbar spine (N=160) and 1.0% at the total hip (N=158) in participants receiving TRUVADA. BMD declines of 5% or greater at the lumbar spine and 7% or greater at the total hip were experienced by 4% and 1% of participants, respectively, in both treatment groups at Week 48. The long-term clinical significance of these BMD changes is not known.
Serum Lipids
Changes from baseline to Week 48 in total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol to HDL ratio are presented in Table 4.
Table 4 Fasting Lipid Values, Mean Change from Baseline, Reported in HIV-1 Uninfected Participants Receiving DESCOVY or TRUVADA in the DISCOVER Triala
DESCOVY (N=2,694) |
TRUVADA (N=2,693) |
|||
Baseline | Week 48 | Baseline | Week 48 | |
mg/dL | Changeb | mg/dL | Changeb | |
Total Cholesterol (fasted) | 176 c | 0 c | 176 d | -12 d |
HDL-Cholesterol (fasted) | 51c | -2 c | 51 d | -5 d |
LDL-Cholesterol (fasted) | 103 e | 0 e | 103 f | -7 f |
Triglycerides (fasted) | 109 c | +9 c | 111 d | -1 d |
Total Cholesterol to HDL ratio | 3.7 c | 0.2 c | 3.7 d | 0.1 d |
a. Excludes subjects who received lipid lowering agents during the treatment period. b. The baseline and change from baseline are for subjects with both baseline and Week 48 values. c. N=1,098 d. N=1,124 e. N=1,079 f. N=1,107 |
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of products containing TAF. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Angioedema, urticaria, and rash
Renal And Urinary Disorders
Acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis, proximal renal tubulopathy, and Fanconi syndrome
SRC: NLM .