Pharmacokinetics, Antiviral Activity, and Safety of Rilpivirine in Pregnant Women with HIV-1 Infection: Results of a Phase 3b, Multicenter, Open-Label Study

Introduction Physiologic changes during pregnancy may impact the pharmacokinetics of drugs. In addition, efficacy and safety/tolerability concerns have been identified for some antiretroviral agents. Methods Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1–infected pregnant women (18–26 weeks gestation) receiving the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor rilpivirine 25 mg once daily were enrolled in this phase 3b, open-label study examining the impact of pregnancy on the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine when it is given in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Blood samples (collected over the 24-h dosing interval) to assess total and unbound rilpivirine plasma concentrations were obtained during the second and third trimesters (24–28 and 34–38 weeks gestation, respectively) and 6–12 weeks postpartum. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using noncompartmental analysis and compared (pregnancy versus postpartum) using linear mixed effects modeling. Antiviral and immunologic response and safety were assessed. Results Nineteen women were enrolled; 15 had evaluable pharmacokinetic results. Total rilpivirine exposure was 29–31% lower during pregnancy versus postpartum; differences were less pronounced for unbound (pharmacodynamically active) rilpivirine. At study entry, 12/19 (63.2%) women were virologically suppressed; 10/12 (83.3%) women were suppressed at the postpartum visit. Twelve infants were born to the 12 women who completed the study (7 discontinued); no perinatal viral transmission was observed among 10 infants with available data. Rilpivirine was generally safe and well tolerated in women and infants exposed in utero. Conclusion Despite decreased rilpivirine exposure during pregnancy, treatment was effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission and suppressing HIV-1 RNA in pregnant women. Results suggest that rilpivirine 25 mg once daily, as part of individualized combination antiretroviral therapy, may be an appropriate option for HIV-1–infected pregnant women. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT00855335.