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Is Biktarvy a protease inhibitor?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on July 30, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

No, Biktarvy is not a protease inhibitor. It is a combination integrase inhibitor and reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of people living with HIV.

In studies looking at Biktary for HIV treatment, most patients were able to reach an undetectable level of virus in their blood with Biktarvy (fewer than 50 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood).

How does Biktarvy work?

The HIV virus uses three different enzymes to convert RNA, the genetic material that allows the virus to multiply, into DNA. The three enzymes that are targeted by HIV antiretroviral medicines include reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. Biktarvy specifically blocks (inhibits) integrase and reverse transcriptase.

Integrase inhibitors like bictegravir work by blocking integrase, an enzyme needed for HIV replication.

Nucleoside / nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) like emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide work by blocking reverse transcriptase, an enzyme needed for HIV replication.

Biktarvy is used to treat (not prevent) HIV infection in at-risk people and is not used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide fumarate) and Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) are the FDA-approved medications used for PrEP.

Related information: HIV Treatment Options: An Overview

This is not all the information you need to know about Biktarvy for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Biktarvy information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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Who are the actors in the Biktarvy commercials?

One actor and four real-life patients feature in the Biktarvy commercial “Keep loving who you are”, released on March 25th, 2020. They are Dimitri Moise, D’Eva Longoria, Zach [surname withheld], Nakeisa Jackson (Nikki), and Hugo [surname withheld]. The commercial was filmed at various locations including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Cape May, and San Antonio. Continue reading

Does Biktarvy cause weight gain?

Weight gain is a side effect with Biktarvy, but it was reported after the drug was approved and it's not known if it was caused by the drug. Studies have shown a weight gain of between 1 and 4 kg (2.2 to 8.8 lbs) over 2 years with integrase inhibitors. Continue reading

Do you have to take Biktarvy forever?

Biktarvy antiretroviral therapy (ART) is taken indefinitely for HIV-1 infection as it is a complete regimen for both initial and long-term treatment. Stopping ART can increase blood levels of the HIV virus, lead to resistance, increase your risk for HIV infections and complications and increase the chance that you may transmit the infection to others. Continue reading

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