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Another HIV treatment option - but with less weight-gain South African study finds doravirine works as well as dolutegravir to suppress HIV viral load, enabling choice for those living with HIV. 31 July 2026

University of the WitwatersrandRef: TDF/3TC/DOR

Official source

Source domain: wits.ac.za

Collected on 2 August 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 2 August 2026)Official source

What this means

This is a news release from Wits University dated 31 July 2026 about results from the South African Opti-DOR study. The study found that a once-daily three-drug regimen of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), lamivudine (3TC) and doravirine (TDF/3TC/DOR) was non-inferior to dolutegravir-based treatment for suppressing HIV viral load, while causing significantly less weight gain and a better lipid profile. The article reports that 178 participants were enrolled at the AHRI-Somkhele rural site (Dec 2023–Mar 2025) and the total study included 600 participants, with randomisation 1:1 to doravirine or dolutegravir. It also notes that some participants developed doravirine resistance and were switched to dolutegravir with successful viral suppression, and that researchers alerted South Africa’s National Department of Health and the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority.

Facts

Places

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng

Reference

TDF/3TC/DOR

Key Takeaways

  • Document date: 31 July 2026
  • Study: South African Opti-DOR
  • Regimens compared: TDF/3TC/DOR vs TAF/FTC/DTG (dolutegravir-based)
  • Primary outcome: HIV viral load suppression (doravirine non-inferior to dolutegravir if taken properly)
  • Weight gain at week 48: 3.0 kg (doravirine) vs 5.0 kg (dolutegravir-based)
  • Body fat percentage increase: 1.5% (doravirine) vs 2.2% (dolutegravir-based)
  • Resistance: 7 patients developed resistance to doravirine; switched to dolutegravir and suppressed again
  • Rural site: AHRI-Somkhele in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal; urban site: Gauteng
  • AHRI rural enrolment: 178 participants between Dec 2023 and Mar 2025; total participants: 600
  • Presentation: 2026 International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science
  • Publication: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
  • Regulatory/health authorities alerted: South African National Department of Health and SAHPRA
  • Wits University
  • University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
  • Ezintsha
  • Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)
  • AHRI-Somkhele site
  • International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science
  • Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
  • South African National Department of Health
  • South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
  • Dr Joana Woods
  • Professor Limakatso Lebina

Dates

Closing Date

31 July 2026