A once-weekly oral HIV treatment maintained viral suppression as effectively as a once-daily regimen, according to a new trial detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine. CIDRAP has the news.

607 adults across 12 countries were randomly assigned to either switch to the weekly pill regimen or continue their daily medication. After 48 weeks, 93.4% of participants taking the weekly regimen and 92.4% of those continuing daily therapy maintained viral suppression, suggesting the weekly regimen was noninferior to the daily. CD4+ T-cell and total lymphocyte numbers remained stable, showing immune responses remained.

16 participants receiving the weekly regimen and 14 receiving daily therapy experienced a serious adverse event; six and five participants respectively discontinued treatment due to adverse events.

Investigators suggest a once-weekly oral regimen could help address the mental and emotional burden of taking medication daily. A weekly oral regimen may also simply be more convenient than long-acting injectable HIV therapies as well.