Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Cobicistat may increase the plasma concentrations of antiretroviral agents. The plasma concentrations of cobicistat may also be increased or reduced in the presence of antiretroviral agents. The proposed mechanism is cobicistat inhibition of the CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme, of which antiretroviral agents may be substrates, and the inhibition or induction of CYP450 3A4 by concomitant antiretroviral medications. Cobicistat is a mechanism-based inhibitor and substrate of CYP450 3A4 with no antiretroviral activity of its own. Rather, it is indicated in its capacity as a pharmacokinetic booster of CYP450 3A4 to increase the systemic exposure of some antiretroviral medications such as atazanavir, darunavir, and elvitegravir, which are substrates of this isoenzyme. Concomitant use of other antiretroviral agents with cobicistat may also increase the plasma levels and risk of side effects associated with these medicines. In contrast, concomitant use of cobicistat-boosted atazanavir or darunavir with CYP450 3A4 inducers nevirapine, etravirine, or efavirenz may reduce the plasma concentrations of cobicistat, darunavir, and atazanavir, leading to a potential loss of therapeutic effect and development of resistance to darunavir and atazanavir. Pharmacokinetic data are not available.

MANAGEMENT: Cobicistat is not intended for use with more than one antiretroviral medication that requires pharmacokinetic enhancement, such as two protease inhibitors or elvitegravir in combination with a protease inhibitor. In addition, cobicistat should not be used concomitantly with ritonavir due to their similar effects on CYP450 3A4. According to some authorities, use of the antiretroviral combinations of atazanavir-cobicistat or darunavir-cobicistat concomitantly with the CYP450 3A4 inducers efavirenz, etravirine, or nevirapine is also not recommended. Other authorities consider the administration of atazanavir-cobicistat with efavirenz or nevirapine to be contraindicated. Since dosing recommendations have only been established for a number of antiretroviral medications, product labeling and current antiretroviral treatment guidelines should be consulted.

GENERALLY AVOID: Administration with a high-fat meal may decrease the oral bioavailability of amprenavir. The mechanism is unknown. In healthy volunteers, consumption of a standardized high-fat meal decreased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of amprenavir (1200 mg single oral dose) by 36% and 21%, respectively, compared to administration in the fasted state. The time to reach Cmax (Tmax) was increased 44% following a high-fat meal.

Grapefruit juice does not appear to significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of amprenavir. In 12 healthy volunteers, administration with grapefruit juice (200 mL) decreased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of amprenavir (1200 mg single oral dose) by 22% compared to water. The median time to reach Cmax (Tmax) was prolonged from 0.75 to 1.13 hours. These pharmacokinetic changes are not thought to be clinically significant, since antiretroviral response is more closely associated with systemic exposure (AUC) and trough plasma concentration (Cmin), which were not affected in the study.

MANAGEMENT: Amprenavir may be taken with or without food, but should not be taken with a high-fat meal.