Efficacy of dolutegravir plus lamivudine in treatment-naïve people with HIV with baseline transmitted drug-resistance mutations

BACKGROUND: Dolutegravir plus lamivudine (DTG+3TC) is a recommended first-line regimen for people with HIV (PWH), based on its efficacy and safety. However, pivotal trials excluded individuals with transmitted resistance-associated mutations (tRAMs), even when these did not affect regimen activity. The impact of such mutations on DTG+3TC efficacy remains unknown. METHODS: This was a preplanned subanalysis of the D2ARLING trial, a randomized, open-label, phase IV study comparing DTG+3TC vs. DTG+tenofovir disoproxil fumarate with emtricitabine or lamivudine (DTG+TDF/XTC) in antiretroviral-naïve PWH without baseline resistance test results. Per protocol, baseline genotypic resistance testing was performed on day 1 but remained blinded throughout the study and was only unblinded after completion. Participants with successfully amplified samples were included. The primary endpoint was the proportion with HIV-1 RNA