The REPRIEVE study team conducted additional analyses to determine if certain antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), including abacavir, were associated with an increased MACE risk. Credit: NIAID

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reported that exploratory analysis data from a clinical trial of an antiretroviral drug (ARV) abacavir shows that it is linked to a higher risk of high major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in HIV patients.

Named REPRIEVE, the international, randomised trial was mainly funded by the NIH. It enrolled a total of 7,769 subjects from 12 countries.

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According to the exploratory analysis findings, a daily cholesterol-fighting statin regimen was demonstrated to reduce MACE risk, including heart attacks and strokes, by over one-third.

The REPRIEVE study team conducted additional analyses to determine if certain antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), including abacavir, were associated with an increased MACE risk.

The selected ARVs had been previously linked to cardiovascular risk and were part of multi-drug antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens.

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This study indicated that 22% of subjects had prior exposure to abacavir, with 13% currently taking the drug.

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Statistical analyses showed that both past and current abacavir users had a 50% and 42% elevated risk of MACE, respectively, compared to those with no exposure to the drug.

No other ARVs in the study were associated with a change in MACE risk.

In addition, the higher MACE risk among patients with present or past exposure to abacavir was unaffected by the co-administration of major ARV medication classes as part of an ART regimen.

These findings are consistent with prior research that also identified a higher risk of cardiovascular disease with abacavir use.

The study’s results highlighted the need for further research to understand the increased risk and how it should be considered alongside other cardiovascular risk factors for people with HIV.

Earlier this month, the NIH announced the start of subject enrolment for a Phase I clinical trial of MPV/S-2P, an investigational nasal vaccine designed to provide broader protection against evolving variants of SARS-CoV-2.