Dolutegravir
Dolutegravir is an antiretroviral drug in the integrase strand transfer inhibitor class and is used in the treatment of HIV.
Dolutegravir is an antiretroviral drug in the integrase strand transfer inhibitor class and is used in the treatment of HIV. By inhibiting HIV integrase, it blocks a key step in the viral life cycle: the insertion of viral DNA into the host genome. This mechanism makes dolutegravir a central component of modern antiretroviral therapy, including first-line regimens and switch strategies for people living with HIV.
Clinically, dolutegravir is used both as a standalone agent within combination therapy and in fixed-dose combinations such as dolutegravir/lamivudine and dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine. Recent research has continued to evaluate its effectiveness, tolerability, metabolic effects, and broader virologic or immunologic impacts in diverse populations, including treatment-naive adults, treatment-experienced patients, children and adolescents, and people receiving long-term post-marketing care.
Where the papers sit
11 papers from the last 6 months study dolutegravir directly · updated from PubMed 11 Oct 2026
Study type 3 clinical trials · 5 observational · 2 human data · 1 preclinical
Themes 3 themes · 1 new direction
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HIV Treatment Outcomes
HIV care is extending beyond viral suppression to drug exposure, resistance risk, metabolic health and central nervous system pharmacokinetics. Plasma dolutegravir testing is being used to identify patients at risk of resistance, while low-level viremia remains a recurring concern. Weight gain, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia are prominent safety endpoints in dolutegravir-based therapy. Population pharmacokinetic studies and routine monitoring are being linked more closely to treatment decisions.
6 papers · 54.5%
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Treatment Simplification and Delivery
Treatment is moving toward two-drug maintenance regimens and alternative delivery systems for people with suppressed HIV. Switching to dolutegravir plus lamivudine is assessed for virological durability and metabolic effects, but prior hepatitis B infection raises concern about tenofovir withdrawal and failure. Rilpivirine and dolutegravir nanoemulsions explore transdermal delivery, particularly for children. The central balance is simpler administration against resistance, HBV reactivation and reliable drug exposure.
3 papers · 27.3%
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First-Line HIV Regimens
First-line treatment is moving toward simplified dolutegravir-based fixed-dose combinations for children and adults. Pediatric development focuses on a dolutegravir-emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide formulation suitable for wider access. Comparative evidence weighs BIC/FTC/TAF against DTG plus lamivudine for virological efficacy and safety. The main open question is whether tenofovir alafenamide combinations provide meaningful advantages across age groups.
2 papers · 18.2%
Dolutegravir is repositioned as a transdermal pediatric delivery component
The nanoemulsion-based transdermal delivery study of rilpivirine and dolutegravir for pediatric HIV treatment 42425238Jul moves dolutegravir beyond the oral antiretroviral regimens, pharmacokinetic studies, and clinical outcome assessments used by the other papers. Whereas those studies treat dolutegravir as an orally administered component of antiretroviral therapy, this study develops an optimized nanoemulsion to deliver dolutegravir and rilpivirine through the skin, aiming to address pediatric adherence, dosing complexity, and unpalatable taste. The resulting role is not merely a new clinical application of the established regimen but a new route and formulation for administering dolutegravir.
Papers
The 11 papers from the last 6 months that study dolutegravir directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
HIV Treatment Outcomes (6)
- Burden and determinants of hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia in Zimbabwean adults living with HIV on dolutegravir-based first-line antiretroviral therapy: A cross-sectional study. PloS one · 7 Oct 2026 PMID 42842595
- Population Pharmacokinetics of Dolutegravir in Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid in Adults Living With HIV. CPT: pharmacometrics & systems pharmacology · 30 Sept 2026 PMID 42811541
- Plasma dolutegravir exposure testing to identify people with HIV at highest risk for dolutegravir resistance (ITREMA-2): a two-centre, prospective implementation study in South Africa. The lancet. HIV · 2 Sept 2026 PMID 42685737
- Pathways of onward HIV disclosure in relationships among young people living with vertically acquired HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy: A qualitative analysis from the BREATHER Plus trial, South Africa. Global public health · 20 Aug 2026 PMID 42623024
- Low-Level Viremia and Spatial Heterogeneity Among Individuals on Dolutegravir-Based Antiretroviral Therapy in Botswana: A Nationwide Study (2016-2022). The Journal of infectious diseases · 17 Aug 2026 PMID 42605207
- Comparative metabolic safety of efavirenz-, dolutegravir-, and bictegravir-based antiretroviral regimens in HIV-infected adults: Evidence for weight-dependent lipid deterioration. Journal of infection and public health · 25 Jun 2026 PMID 42349058
Treatment Simplification and Delivery (3)
- Risk of Virological Failure After Switch to a Tenofovir-Sparing Dual Therapy in Virologically Suppressed People With HIV and Past HBV Infection. Journal of medical virology · 21 Jul 2026 PMID 42479941
- Nanoemulsion-based transdermal delivery of rilpivirine and dolutegravir for pediatric HIV treatment. International journal of pharmaceutics · 9 Jul 2026 PMID 42425238
- Efficacy and metabolic outcomes of switching from an INSTI-based triple-drug regimen to dolutegravir/lamivudine in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients: a 48-week real-world study. Annals of medicine · 13 May 2026 PMID 42124360
First-Line HIV Regimens (2)
- Expediting a UNIVERSAL first-line regimen of a dolutegravir-emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide fixed-dose ratio for children living with HIV older than 4 weeks: a 24-week, open-label, single-arm, phase 1-2, pharmacokinetic, safety, and antiviral activity trial. The lancet. HIV · 7 Sept 2026 PMID 42705257
- Comparative safety and efficacy of BIC/FTC/TAF versus DTG+3TC in antiretroviral treatment-naive patients with HIV as first-line regimens: A real-world cohort study. Bioscience trends · 26 Apr 2026 PMID 42036350
By study type
Clinical trials (3)
- Expediting a UNIVERSAL first-line regimen of a dolutegravir-emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide fixed-dose ratio for children living with HIV older than 4 weeks: a 24-week, open-label, single-arm, phase 1-2, pharmacokinetic, safety, and antiviral activity trial. The lancet. HIV · 7 Sept 2026 PMID 42705257
- Pathways of onward HIV disclosure in relationships among young people living with vertically acquired HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy: A qualitative analysis from the BREATHER Plus trial, South Africa. Global public health · 20 Aug 2026 PMID 42623024
- Risk of Virological Failure After Switch to a Tenofovir-Sparing Dual Therapy in Virologically Suppressed People With HIV and Past HBV Infection. Journal of medical virology · 21 Jul 2026 PMID 42479941
Observational studies and case reports (5)
- Burden and determinants of hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia in Zimbabwean adults living with HIV on dolutegravir-based first-line antiretroviral therapy: A cross-sectional study. PloS one · 7 Oct 2026 PMID 42842595
- Plasma dolutegravir exposure testing to identify people with HIV at highest risk for dolutegravir resistance (ITREMA-2): a two-centre, prospective implementation study in South Africa. The lancet. HIV · 2 Sept 2026 PMID 42685737
- Low-Level Viremia and Spatial Heterogeneity Among Individuals on Dolutegravir-Based Antiretroviral Therapy in Botswana: A Nationwide Study (2016-2022). The Journal of infectious diseases · 17 Aug 2026 PMID 42605207
- Efficacy and metabolic outcomes of switching from an INSTI-based triple-drug regimen to dolutegravir/lamivudine in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients: a 48-week real-world study. Annals of medicine · 13 May 2026 PMID 42124360
- Comparative safety and efficacy of BIC/FTC/TAF versus DTG+3TC in antiretroviral treatment-naive patients with HIV as first-line regimens: A real-world cohort study. Bioscience trends · 26 Apr 2026 PMID 42036350
Human data, design not indexed (2)
- Population Pharmacokinetics of Dolutegravir in Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid in Adults Living With HIV. CPT: pharmacometrics & systems pharmacology · 30 Sept 2026 PMID 42811541
- Comparative metabolic safety of efavirenz-, dolutegravir-, and bictegravir-based antiretroviral regimens in HIV-infected adults: Evidence for weight-dependent lipid deterioration. Journal of infection and public health · 25 Jun 2026 PMID 42349058
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (1)
- Nanoemulsion-based transdermal delivery of rilpivirine and dolutegravir for pediatric HIV treatment. International journal of pharmaceutics · 9 Jul 2026 PMID 42425238
Written from 11 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-06-15. Last written: 2026-08-27 by GPT. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.