Renal outcomes for participants taking F/TAF vs. F/TDF for HIV PrEP in the DISCOVER trial

Background. In the DISCOVER PrEP trial, emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (F/ TAF) was noninferior to emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF) for HIV prevention. Here, we report on the renal outcomes of F/TAF and F/TDF among all DISCOVER participants and in those on baseline F/TDF PrEP who were randomized to F/TAF. Methods. In total, 5387 men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) at risk for HIV were randomized 1:1 to receive blinded F/TDF or F/ TAF taken once daily (full cohort). Of these, 905 were on F/TDF PrEP at enrollment; of whom, 465 were randomized to F/TAF. Renal function and safety assessments included urinalysis (UA), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRCG), urine protein:creatinine (Cr) ratio (UPCR), markers of proximal tubular function (β2-microglobulin:Cr ratio [β2M:Cr] and retinol-binding protein:Cr ratio [RBP:Cr]) and investigator-reported renal adverse events (AEs). Week 48 data are presented. Results. In the full cohort, F/TAF was associated with more favorable changes in eGFRCG, β2M:Cr, and RBP:Cr compared with F/TDF (Table 1). Treatment-emergent proteinuria by UA was more common with F/TDF than F/TAF (24.3% vs. 21.3% P = 0.009), as were treatment-emergent elevations in UPCR >200 mg/g (35 [1.5%] vs. 16 [0.7%], P = 0.005). Compared with F/TDF, participants taking F/TAF had numerically fewer study drug-related renal AEs, severe study drug-related renal AEs, and discontinuations due to renal AEs (Table 2). Proximal renal tubulopathy (Fanconi syndrome) was reported in one participant in the F/TDF arm and none in the F/TAF arm. In participants on F/TDF PrEP at enrollment who were randomized to F/TAF, statistically significant increases in eGFRCG were apparent as early as week 4 (Table 1 and Figure 1), as were decreases in tubular proteinuria (Table 1). Renal biomarker changes in PrEPnaïve participants mirrored those in the full cohort. Conclusion. Through 48 weeks, MSM and TGW taking F/TAF for PrEP had significantly better measures of renal function and fewer study-drug-related renal AEs compared with those taking F/TDF; switching from F/TDF to F/TAF was associated with improvements in eGFRCG and tubular function biomarkers. F/TAF for PrEP is effective and has a superior renal safety profile compared with F/TDF. (Table Presented).