Doravirine
Also sold as: Pifeltro, Delstrigo
Related Medications
These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.
Classification: Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (source: RxClass/NLM)
- rilpivirineHuman Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Non-Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorSame Class
- efavirenzHuman Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Non-Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorSame Class
- etravirineHuman Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Non-Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorSame Class
- nevirapineHuman Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Non-Nucleoside Analog Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorSame Class
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Drug Information
Mechanism of Action
12.1 Mechanism of Action Doravirine is an antiretroviral drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].
Indications & Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PIFELTRO ® is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg: with no prior antiretroviral treatment history; OR to replace the current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically-suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to doravirine [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . PIFELTRO, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg: with no prior antiretroviral treatment history, OR to replace the current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically-suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to doravirine. ( 1 )
Dosage & Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended dosage: One tablet taken orally once daily with or without food in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg. ( 2.1 ) Dosage adjustment with rifabutin: One tablet taken twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart). ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage regimen of PIFELTRO in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg is one 100 mg tablet taken orally once daily with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 2.2 Dosage Adjustment with Rifabutin If PIFELTRO is co-administered with rifabutin, increase PIFELTRO dosage to one tablet twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart) for the duration of rifabutin co-administration [see Drug Interactions (7.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in other sections of the labeling: Immune Reconstitution Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 5%, all grades) are nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and abnormal dreams. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 1-877-888-4231 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Adults with No Antiretroviral Treatment History The safety assessment of PIFELTRO used in combination with other antiretroviral agents is based on Week 96 data from two Phase 3, randomized, international, multicenter, double-blind, active-controlled trials (DRIVE-FORWARD (Protocol 018) and DRIVE-AHEAD (Protocol 021)). In DRIVE-FORWARD, 766 adult participants received either PIFELTRO 100 mg (n=383) or darunavir 800 mg + ritonavir 100 mg (DRV+r) (n=383) once daily, each in combination with emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) or abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC). By Week 96, 2% in the PIFELTRO group and 3% in the DRV+r group had adverse events leading to discontinuation of study medication. In DRIVE-AHEAD, 728 adult participants received either DELSTRIGO [doravirine (DOR)/3TC/TDF] (n=364) or efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF once daily (n=364). By Week 96, 3% in the DELSTRIGO group and 7% in the EFV/FTC/TDF group had adverse events leading to discontinuation of study medication. Adverse reactions reported in greater than or equal to 5% of participants in any treatment group in DRIVE-FORWARD and DRIVE-AHEAD are presented in Table 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Frequencies of adverse reactions are based on all adverse events attributed to trial drugs by the investigator. (All Grades) Reported in ≥5% No adverse reactions of Grade 2 or higher (moderate or severe) occurred in ≥ 2% of participants treated with doravirine. of Participants in Any Treatment Group in Adults with No Antiretroviral Treatment History in DRIVE-FORWARD and DRIVE-AHEAD (Week 96) DRIVE-FORWARD DRIVE-AHEAD PIFELTRO+2 NRTIs NRTI = nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Once Daily N=383 DRV+r+2 NRTIs Once Daily N=383 DELSTRIGO Once Daily N=364 EFV/FTC/TDF Once Daily N=364 NRTIs = FTC/TDF or ABC/3TC. Fatigue: includes fatigue, asthenia, malaise Abdominal Pain: includes abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pain lower, abdominal pain upper, epigastric discomfort Rash: includes rash, rash erythematous, rash generalized, rash macular, rash maculo-papular, rash papular, rash pruritic, rash pustular Nausea 7% 8% 5% 7% Headache 6% 3% 4% 5% Fatigue 6% 3% 4% 4% Diarrhea 6% 13% 4% 6% Abdominal Pain 5% 2% 1% 2% Dizziness 3% 2% 7% 32% Rash 2% 3% 2% 12% Abnormal Dreams 1% <1% 5% 10% Insomnia 1% 2% 4% 5% Somnolence 0% <1% 3% 7% The majority (77%) of adverse reactions associated with doravirine occurred at severity Grade 1 (mild). Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events For DRIVE-AHEAD, the analysis of participants with neuropsychiatric adverse events by Week 48 is presented in Table 2. The proportion of participants who reported one or more neuropsychiatric adverse events was 24% and 57% in the DELSTRIGO and EFV/FTC/TDF groups, respectively. A statistically significantly lower proportion of DELSTRIGO-treated participants compared to EFV/FTC/TDF-treated participants reported neuropsychiatric adverse events by Week 48 in the three pre-specified categories of dizziness, sleep disorders and disturbances, and altered sensorium. Table 2: DRIVE-AHEAD - Analysis of Participants with Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events All causality and all grade events were included in the analysis. (Week 48) DELSTRIGO Once Daily N=364 EFV/FTC/TDF Once Daily N=364 Treatment Difference DELSTRIGO - EFV/FTC/TDF Estimate (95% CI) The 95% CIs were calculated using Miettinen and Nurminen's method. Categories pre-specified for statistical testing were dizziness (p <0.001), sleep disorders and disturbances (p <0.001), and altered sensorium (p=0.033). Sleep disorders and disturbances Predefined using MedDRA preferred terms, including: abnormal dreams, hyposomnia, initial insomnia, insomnia, nightmare, sleep disorder, somnambulism. 12% 26% -13.5 (-19.1, -7.9) Dizziness 9% 37% -28.3 (-34.0, -22.5) Altered sensorium Predefined using MedDRA preferred terms, including: altered state of consciousness, lethargy, somnolence, syncope. 4% 8% -3.8 (-7.6, -0.3) Neuropsychiatric adverse events in the pre-defined category of depression and suicide/self-injury were reported in 4% and 7% of participants, in the DELSTRIGO and EFV/FTC/TDF groups, respectively. In DRIVE-AHEAD through 48 weeks of treatment, the majori
Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Consult the full prescribing information prior to and during treatment for important potential drug-drug interactions. ( 4 , 5.2 , 7 ) 7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on PIFELTRO Co-administration of PIFELTRO with a CYP3A inducer decreases doravirine plasma concentrations, which may reduce PIFELTRO efficacy [see Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.2) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Co-administration of PIFELTRO and drugs that are inhibitors of CYP3A may result in increased plasma concentrations of doravirine. Table 6 shows significant drug interactions with PIFELTRO. Table 6: Drug Interactions with PIFELTRO This table is not all inclusive. Concomitant Drug Class: Drug Name Effect on Concentration Clinical Comment ↑ = increase, ↓ = decrease All other drug-drug interactions shown are anticipated based on the known metabolic and elimination pathways. Androgen Receptors enzalutamide ↓ doravirine Co-administration is contraindicated with enzalutamide. At least a 4-week cessation period is recommended prior to initiation of PIFELTRO. Anticonvulsants carbamazepine oxcarbazepine phenobarbital phenytoin ↓ doravirine Co-administration is contraindicated with these anticonvulsants. At least a 4-week cessation period is recommended prior to initiation of PIFELTRO. Antimycobacterials rifampin The interaction between PIFELTRO and the concomitant drug was evaluated in a clinical study. rifapentine ↓ doravirine Co-administration is contraindicated with rifampin or rifapentine . At least a 4-week cessation period is recommended prior to initiation of PIFELTRO. rifabutin ↓ doravirine Increase PIFELTRO dosage to one tablet twice daily when co-administered with rifabutin [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . Cytotoxic Agents mitotane ↓ doravirine Co-administration is contraindicated with mitotane. At least a 4-week cessation period is recommended prior to initiation of PIFELTRO. HIV Antiviral Agents efavirenz etravirine nevirapine ↓ doravirine Use with efavirenz, etravirine, or nevirapine is not recommended. Herbal Products St. John's wort ↓ doravirine Co-administration is contraindicated with St. John's wort. At least a 4-week cessation period is recommended prior to initiation of PIFELTRO. No clinically significant changes in concentration were observed for doravirine when co-administered with the following agents: dolutegravir, TDF, lamivudine, elbasvir and grazoprevir, ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, ritonavir, ketoconazole, aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide/simethicone containing antacid, pantoprazole, and methadone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.2 Effect of PIFELTRO on Other Drugs No clinically significant changes in concentration were observed for the following agents when co-administered with doravirine: dolutegravir, lamivudine, TDF, elbasvir and grazoprevir, ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, atorvastatin, an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, metformin, methadone, and midazolam [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS PIFELTRO is contraindicated when co-administered with drugs that are strong cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A enzyme inducers as significant decreases in doravirine plasma concentrations may occur, which may decrease the effectiveness of PIFELTRO [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) , Drug Interactions (7.1) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . These drugs include, but are not limited to, the following: the anticonvulsants carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin the androgen receptor inhibitor enzalutamide the antimycobacterials rifampin, rifapentine the cytotoxic agent mitotane St. John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum) PIFELTRO is contraindicated when co-administered with drugs that are strong cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A enzyme inducers as significant decreases in doravirine plasma concentrations may occur, which may decrease the effectiveness of PIFELTRO. ( 4 )
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Data sourced from RxNorm (NLM/NIH), FDA Orange Book, OpenFDA, DailyMed. Last updated: 2026-03-02.