The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of RAL+ATV/r in comparison with TDF/FTC+ATV/r in HIV-1 infected patients presenting virologic failure and PI and TDF naïve.

Overall Study Design and Plan: Description

This is a pilot, randomized, open-label study. All the participants will be assigned to receive RAL+ATV/r or TDF/FTC+ATV/r. Patients will be evaluated at screening, randomization (day 0), and on weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48.

At the screening visit, subjects must be willing and able to give written (signed and dated) informed consent prior to any study specific procedures. They will receive a unique screening number and will undergo the study procedures associated with the screening visit. The investigator will evaluate whether the subject meets all eligibility criteria specified and record the details of the informed consent process and the results of this assessment in the subject's medical records. Two forms of the ICF will be signed, one for the subject and the other to file at the site.

At baseline visit, enrollment criteria will be reviewed and subjects who meet all of them will undergo study procedures. Subjects will receive instructions about study medications and dosing schedule. Subjects should start study medication within 24 hours of the baseline visit. Subjects will return to the investigator´s site for study visits and procedures. Subjects who prematurely discontinue the study must return for a discontinuation visit and undergo the study procedures identified for the discontinuation visit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female subject ≥18 years of age.
• Documented HIV-1 infection defined as a positive ELISA plus a confirmatory Western Blot; or a plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥10,000 copies/mL ever documented.
• Patients who have failed their initial treatment containing NNRTI(s) + 2NRTI(s) combination therapy, according to virological criteria defined by two consecutive (at least 7 days apart) HIV-1 RNA results ≥500 copies/mL. Subject must be on stable HAART for at least the last 4 weeks.
• No prior or current exposure to HIV-1 protease inhibitors and/or HIV-1 integrase inhibitors.
• Subject must have susceptibility to ATV/r and TDF, as resulted by resistance testing at screening. RAL sensitivity is not required for patients never exposed to this drug in the country.
• Subject has voluntarily signed ICF.
• Subject can comply with protocol requirements.
• Subject's general medical condition, in the investigator's opinion, does not interfere with assessments and completion of the trial.
• Subject agrees not to take any medication during the study, including over the counter medicines or herbal preparations, without the approval of the trial physician.
• If female, is not breastfeeding or pregnant.
• If female, subject must be either postmenopausal for at least one year, surgically sterile (bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy), or she must use 2 different methods of birth control including, at least, one barrier method, that are acceptable to both the subject and investigator, and willing to continue their use for at least 30 days after the end of the treatment period.
• Subjects must have a life-expectancy of more than 1 year.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient has a current (active) diagnosis of acute hepatitis due to any cause OR chronic hepatitis B and/or C WITH aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) AND/OR is likely to require hepatitis treatment in the next year.

• Active hepatitis B infection (positive HBsAg), regardless of stage of infection.

• Subject has a currently active AIDS defining illness (Category C conditions according to the CDC Classification System for HIV infection 1993) in the last 30 days.

• Subjects with a laboratory abnormality Grade 3 or 4 with the following exceptions: pancreatic amylase, cholesterol, triglycerides, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase.

• Screening laboratory analysis show any of the following abnormal results:

  • Hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL
  • Absolute neutrophil count <750 cells/µL
  • Platelet count <50,000 mm3
  • Creatinine >1.5 x ULN

• Any condition that, in the investigators opinion, could compromise the subject's safety or adherence to the trial protocol.

• The use of any study agent within 30 days prior to screening.

• Use of immunosuppressive drugs, cytokines inhibitors or other cytokines in the previous year.

• Any other condition (including, without limitation, the use of alcohol or drugs) that in the investigator's opinion may compromise the safety of the patient or his/her adherence to the protocol.