Switching From Ritonavir to Cobicistat Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in HIV-positive People

Switching from ritonavir to cobicistat reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in HIV-positive people and this drug regimen change is associated with a significant reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides in people with dyslipidemia, according to a study published in HIV Medicine. A team of spanish scientists had shown that the change of ritonavir to cobicistat can increase a darunavir protease inhibitor within six months leads to significant improvements in more than 50% of patients with lipid metabolism disorders when taking antiretroviral therapy. At the same time, the authors of the research write, virological efficiency and immunological status remain at the same level as in combination with ritonavir.

The results show that the substitution of ritonavir with a combination drug may reduce the percentage of patients with dyslipidemia associated with ARVT, and therefore reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The combination is approved in the US and the EU as a booster for some antiretroviral drugs, including a darunavir protease inhibitor. Clinical trials have shown that combination combination / darunavir is as safe and effective as darunavir / rinanavir.

However, according to a number of studies, the interaction of ritonavir with certain drugs is associated with some side effects, including lipid abnormalities. Protease inhibitors, boosted with ritonavir, are a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases, which is the main cause of illness and death among people living with HIV.