Abstract
Background
The antiretroviral enfuvirtide (ENF) is injected subcutaneously using a 27-gauge needle. Injection site reactions (ISRs) can affect long-term ENF tolerability. Alternative ENF delivery methods may ameliorate ISRs.
Methods
We conducted a multicentre, open-label, randomized controlled trial in which patients receiving ENF were randomized to continue receiving ENF by a 27-gauge needle, a shorter 31-gauge needle or a gas-powered, needle-free injection device (NFID). The primary study endpoint was the proportion of participants with <grade 2 ISR induration at week 12.
Results
Sixty patients received treatment and were included in the intention-to-treat population. The cohort was predominantly male (95%) with a mean age of 49.1 (SD ±7.7) years who had injected ENF for a mean of 821 (SD ±561) days. Response rates for ISR induration at week 12 were 38%, 25% and 42% for the 27-gauge, 31-gauge and NFID groups, respectively (all pairwise treatment comparison P-values >0.2). There was no significant between-group difference for any ISR endpoint, except for changes in the composite ISR score (that is, no ongoing pain of ≥grade 1 or ISR for ongoing pain ≥grade 1 with induration ISR <grade 3 and for nodules <grade 2), which favoured the 27-gauge needle and NFID groups over the 31-gauge group (P=0.012 and 0.047, respectively). Plasma HIV RNA load was unaffected. There were seven adverse events related to the delivery system: five attributed to the NFID. At week 12, 85% of participants elected to use the NFID.
Conclusion
Needle-free ENF injection offers a reasonable, reliable alternative to needle-based injecting in this population, at least in the short term.