Biktarvy® (BIC/FTC/TAF)

Rapid Start

This document is in response to your request for information regarding the use of Biktarvy® (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide [BIC/FTC/TAF]) in rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. This response was developed according to principles of evidence‑based medicine and includes data from prospective studies (N≥30).

Some data may be outside of the US FDA-approved prescribing information. In providing this data, Gilead Sciences, Inc. is not making any representation as to its clinical relevance or to the use of any Gilead product(s). For information about the approved conditions of use of any Gilead drug product, please consult the FDA-approved prescribing information.

The full indication, important safety information, and boxed warnings are available at:
www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/biktarvy/biktarvy_pi.

Summary

Clinical Data: BIC/FTC/TAF in Rapid ART Initiation

Across multiple prospective studies, rapid ART initiation with BIC/FTC/TAF showed high rates of efficacy, with virologic suppression rates ranging from 75% to 100% from 24 weeks to up to approximately 1 year of follow-up.1-12 In one study that only reported preliminary results up to Week 4, the virologic suppression rate was 52%.13 In general, there were low rates of Grade ≥3 AEs and discontinuations due to AEs.1,2,5-12 In a study that compared outcomes between rapid start and non-rapid start of ART, rates of undetectable VL were similar between groups, but participants in the rapid start group had better retention of care than those in the non-rapid start group.3 An interim analysis of another study showed that participants in the rapid start group had a significantly shorter time to virologic suppression from both diagnosis and ART initiation than did participants in the control (non-rapid start) group.4

Clinical Data: BIC/FTC/TAF in Rapid ART Initiation

Rapid Initiation With BIC/FTC/TAF vs TDF + 3TC + EFV

Study design and demographics1

A multicenter, randomized study in China compared the efficacy and safety of BIC/FTC/TAF vs TDF + 3TC + EFV in rapid ART initiation in MSM newly diagnosed with HIV-1. Participants were randomly assigned to BIC/FTC/TAF (n=146) or TDF + 3TC + EFV (n=149) and initiated ART within 14 days of diagnosis. The primary endpoint was the rate of virologic suppression (VL <50 c/mL) at Week 48 by FDA Snapshot analysis (superiority threshold: lower end of one-sided 95% CI >7%). Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in CD4 cell count, treatment retention, safety, and PROs through Week 48. Most participants in each treatment group were <35 years of age and of Han ethnicity, with no significant difference between the BIC/FTC/TAF and TDF + 3TC + EFV groups in median age (31 and 32 years, respectively), median baseline VL (4.4 and 4.5 log10 c/mL), median baseline CD4 cell count (340 and 334 cells/mcL), and median time from diagnosis to treatment (5 days for both groups).

Results

At Week 48, the rate of virologic suppression by FDA Snapshot analysis was 95.9% in the BIC/FTC/TAF group and 79.2% in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (treatment difference: 16.7%; 95% CI: 9.4–24.2%); 2.1% and 5.4%, respectively, had VL ≥50 c/mL, and 2.1% and 15.4% had no virologic data. Increases from baseline to Week 48 were significantly greater in the BIC/FTC/TAF than the TDF + 3TC + EFV group and included the following: CD4 count, +223 vs +181 cells/mcL, respectively; CD4%, +11% vs +7.9%; CD4/CD8 ratio, +0.36 vs +0.29 (each, P<0.05). All participants who remained on treatment and completed the 48‑week follow-up in the BIC/FTC/TAF (n=145) and TDF + 3TC + EFV (n=125) groups had good adherence (≥95%) according to pill count.1

The rate of AEs was significantly lower in the BIC/FTC/TAF group than in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (37.7% vs 65.8%, respectively; P<0.001), and most AEs were Grade 1 or 2 in severity. The most common AEs (≥10% in either group) were depression, headache, insomnia, and anxiety. Significantly more participants discontinued TDF + 3TC + EFV than BIC/FTC/TAF due to AEs (7.4% vs 0%, respectively; P=0.001).1

The median (IQR) change from baseline to Week 48 in BMI was 0.9 (0–1.5) kg/m2 in the BIC/FTC/TAF group and 0 (-0.3 to 0.7) kg/m2 in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (P<0.001).1 Changes in BMI from baseline to Week 48 by BMI category are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. BMI Categories at Baseline and Week 48 (Wang et al)1

Increases from baseline to Week 48 in TC (BIC/FTC/TAF vs TDF + 3TC + EFV, +0.47 vs +0.02 mmol/L; P<0.001) and TG levels (+0.19 vs +0.04 mmol/L; P=0.29) were greater in the BIC/FTC/TAF group than in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group. The TC:HDL ratio decreased for both groups (BIC/FTC/TAF vs TDF + 3TC + EFV, −0.38 vs −0.46 mmol/L; P=0.038). LDL levels increased from baseline in the BIC/FTC/TAF group but decreased in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (+0.25 vs −0.14 mmol/L, P<0.001).1

PROs (depression, anxiety, and stress; HIV treatment symptoms; well-being assessment) improved significantly from baseline to Week 48 in the BIC/FTC/TAF group (9 vs 5; P=0.002), but not in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (10 vs 8; P=0.853). The incidences of Grade 3/4 anxiety and depression (according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) were similar between the BIC/FTC/TAF group (10.5% and 6.8%, respectively) and the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (18% and 11.2%; P>0.05 for each); Grade 3/4 insomnia (according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) occurred less frequently in the BIC/FTC/TAF group than in the TDF + 3TC + EFV group (61.7% vs 70.1%; P=0.035).1,14

FAST Study2

Study design and demographics

A prospective, multicenter, open-label, single‑arm study in France evaluated the safety and efficacy of BIC/FTC/TAF for same-day ART initiation in ART-naive adults who were newly diagnosed with HIV-1 (N=118; Table 2). BIC/FTC/TAF had to be initiated at the first medical appointment after HIV diagnosis and before any laboratory results were available. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants in the ITT population with a VL <50 c/mL at Week 24 using FDA Snapshot analysis. Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in CD4 cell count, safety, adherence, and feasibility of and satisfaction with immediate ART initiation in the ITT population.

Table 2. FAST Study: Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics2

an=115. bn=114. cn=110.

Results

In the ITT population, 80.4% (95% CI: 71.8–87.3) and 84.8% (95% CI: 76.8–90.9) of participants had a VL <50 c/mL at Week 24 and Week 48, respectively. The median (IQR) time to suppression was 4 (4–12) weeks. Eleven (9.8%) and 14 (12.5%) participants had protocol-defined virologic failure (two consecutive VLs ≥50 c/mL) at Weeks 24 and 48, respectively; none of these participants had emergent resistance‑associated mutations. The median (IQR) changes from baseline to Week 48 in CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 cell count ratio were +230 (118–360) cells/mL and +0.32 (0.17–0.6), respectively.

BIC/FTC/TAF was well tolerated, and rates of Grade 3 to 4 AEs (15/100 PY) and SAEs were low; none were related to BIC/FTC/TAF. One death by suicide (1/100 PY; unrelated to study drug) occurred. Three Grade 1 AEs led to study drug discontinuation. At Weeks 24 and 48, the median (IQR) changes from baseline in BMI were +0.9 (0.3–1.8) kg/m2 and +1.2 (0.3–‍2.1) kg/m2, respectively.

At Weeks 24 and 48, the self-reported adherence rates were 84.5% and 83.7%, respectively. All participants completed ≥1 of the 4 planned self-administered questionnaires (92.2% of the expected questionnaires were completed) regarding anxiety, acceptability, and general satisfaction. Participants’ opinions of same-day treatment initiation with BIC/FTC/TAF were favorable, and participants reported a stress level of 6.3 out of 10. Anxiety levels decreased significantly from a mean level of 52 at baseline to 37 at Week 48 (P<0.001). Overall, mean general/clinical satisfaction and lifestyle/comfort subscale scores increased from baseline to Week 48, ranging from 25.9 to 26.8 (maximum score, 30).

Rapid Initiation vs Initiation ≥7 Days After Diagnosis3

Study design and demographics

A prospective, single-center study in the Southern US (Kentucky) compared retention in HIV care and efficacy outcomes between newly diagnosed PWH who initiated ART with BIC/FTC/TAF within 7 days of their diagnosis (rapid start group) and those who initiated BIC/FTC/TAF >7 days after their diagnosis (non-rapid start group). A total of 168 participants ≥18 years of age were enrolled, and follow-up visits occurred at 4 to 8 weeks (Visit 2), 12 to 16 weeks (Visit 3), then every 4 to 6 months (Visit ≥4) thereafter. The primary endpoint was retention in HIV care at 1 year, which was met if a participant had ≥3 clinic visits within the first 12 months of care, attended a clinic visit at 1 year (Visit 5), and had no care gaps >6 months in duration. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of participants with an undetectable VL (HIV-1 RNA <20 c/mL) and the duration from diagnosis to achieving an undetectable VL up to 1 year. Participants in the rapid start group started ART a median (IQR) of 3 (1–7) days after HIV diagnosis vs 38 (19–100) days in the non‑rapid start group. All 108 participants in the rapid start group and 57 of 60 participants (95%) in the non-rapid start group initiated BIC/FTC/TAF treatment. Participants in the non‑rapid start group were older and had a higher CD4 count at baseline than those in the rapid start group (Table 3).

Table 3. Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics (Ali et al)3  

aP=0.004. bP=0.03.

Retention and efficacy results

The retention rate at Visit 3 and the rates of undetectable VL at Visit 4 were significantly higher in the rapid start group than in the non-rapid start group (Table 4).

Table 4. Rates of Retention in Care and Undetectable VL by Visit (Ali et al)3  

aP=0.006. P=0.007.

RoCHaCHa Study4

Study design and demographics

A prospective, open-label, single‑center study evaluated BIC/FTC/TAF for rapid ART initiation (same day) in adult participants who were newly diagnosed with HIV-1 and were ART naive (N=45). Interim results were reported for participants who had been in care for ≥3 months as of May 2021. Enrolled participants were aged ≥18 years, had been diagnosed with HIV-1 ≤21 days prior to study enrollment, had CrCl >30 mL/min, and weighed >35 kg. Participants in the rapid start group (n=34) received BIC/FTC/TAF once daily and were followed through 48 weeks. Outcomes were compared with those of participants who received standard‑of‑care therapy (non‑rapid start; historical control, n=24) between January 2016 and August 2017. The primary endpoints were the median times from diagnosis to virologic suppression with a VL <200 c/mL and <50 c/mL and from ART initiation to virologic suppression. Thirty-four participants had >3 months of data, and 21 participants completed 48 weeks of the study.

Table 5. RoCHaCHa Study: Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics4

Results

Twenty of the 21 participants (95%) who received rapid start BIC/FTC/TAF were virologically suppressed at Week 48. At the time of the interim analysis, no participants had modifications made to their BIC/FTC/TAF regimen due to resistance or virologic failure. Participants in the rapid start group had a significantly shorter time to virologic suppression and higher treatment retention rates than those in the control group. Safety data were not reported from this study.

Table 6. RoCHaCHa Study: Retention in Care and Efficacy Outcomes4

aP<0.001. bn=33; viral suppression data were unknown for 1 participant. cP<0.05. dP≥0.05.

Phase 3b Study: Rapid BIC/FTC/TAF vs DRV/c/FTC/TAF5

Study design and demographics

An open-label, two-arm, phase 3b, multicenter study was conducted in the UK to assess outcomes of ARV-naive, adult PWH who initiated ART <14 days after receiving an HIV-1 diagnosis (N=36; Table 7). Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to BIC/FTC/TAF or DRV/c/FTC/TAF, and ART was initiated within 48 hours of the baseline visit. The primary endpoint was the time‑weighted average change in HIV-1 RNA from baseline to Week 12. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of participants who achieved virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL) at Weeks 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 and safety outcomes.

Table 7. Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics (Whitlock et al)5

Abbreviations: INSTI=integrase strand transfer inhibitor; NNRTI=non-nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitor; NRTI=nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitor; PI=protease inhibitor.

aIn the BIC/FTC/TAF arm, there were NNRTI (K103N, n=1) and NRTI (D67G, n=1) mutations. In the DRV/c/FTC/TAF arm, the following mutations were observed: NNRTI (K103N/Q, n=3; V179D/E, n=2; E138A, n=1), NRTI (M184V, n=3; D67N, n=1; K219Q, n=1), and PI (V82A, n=1). Some participants had ≥1 mutation.

Results

From ART initiation to Week 12, the time-weighted mean decrease in log10 HIV-1 RNA was 3.1 log10 c/mL in the BIC/FTC/TAF arm and 2.6 log10 c/mL in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF arm (P<0.001). At Week 12, 84% of participants (16/19) in the BIC/FTC/TAF arm and 35% of participants (6/17) in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF arm were virologically suppressed (P<0.05); at Week 48, 74% (14/19) and 65% (11/17), respectively, were virologically suppressed.

Overall, 22 participants reported drug-related AEs (BIC/FTC/TAF, n=13; DRV/c/FTC/TAF, n=9). Two SAEs in the BIC/FTC/TAF arm and 1 SAE in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF arm were reported; none were considered related to study drug. Eight participants had ≥1 Grade 3 laboratory abnormality (BIC/FTC/TAF, n=3; DRV/c/FTC/TAF, n=5), and none were determined to be related to study drug. At Week 12, 3 participants (8%) in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF arm had discontinued (lost to follow-up, n=2; unable to make study visits, n=1), and at Week 48, 2 participants in the BIC/FTC/TAF arm and 4 participants in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF arm were lost to follow-up.

Additional Clinical Data on BIC/FTC/TAF in Rapid ART Initiation

Table 8. Summary of Additional Single-Arm/Non-Randomized Studies of Rapid Start BIC/FTC/TAF6-13

Abbreviations: GGT=γ-glutamyl transferase; IRIS=immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome; lab=laboratory; LOCF=last observation carried forward; PHI=primary HIV infection; PNS=peer navigation support; PP=per protocol; PWHID=people with HIV who inject drugs.

References

1. Wang R, Sun L, Wang X, et al. Rapid Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy with Coformulated Bictegravir, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Alafenamide Versus Efavirenz, Lamivudine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in HIV-positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: Week 48 Results of the Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2024:ciae012.

2. Bachelard A, Isernia V, Charpentier C, et al. Same-day initiation of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide: Week 48 results of the FAST study-IMEA 055. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2023;78(3):769-778.

3. Ali T, Arnold FW, Salunke V, et al. Impact of Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation on Retention in Care and Viral Suppression in an Urban HIV Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky [Poster]. Paper presented at: IDWeek; October 19 - 22, 2025; Atlanta, GA.

4. Zuppelli A, Scutaru J, Danforth A, et al. Interim Analysis of Real-World Community-Based HIV Rapid Start Antiretroviral with BFTAF Versus Conventional HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Start The RoCHaCHa Study a Pilot Study [Poster #880]. Paper presented at: IDWeek 2021; 29 September - 03 October, 2021; San Diego, CA.

5. Whitlock G, Fidler S, Clarke A, et al. A randomised control trial of BIC/F/TAF vs DRV/c/F/TAF in context of HIV test-and-treat, BicTnT. HIV Res Clin Pract. 2024;25(1):2400453.

6. Huang Y-C, Sun H-Y, Lu P-L, et al. Multicentre, prospective cohort study of same-day initiation of antiretroviral therapy with BIC/FTC/TAF among antiretroviral-naïve people with HIV [Poster 152]. Paper presented at: HIV Glasgow; November 10-13, 2024; Glasgow, UK.

7. Hidalgo-Tenorio C, Sequera S, Collado A, et al. Bictegravir/Emtricitavine/Tenofovir alafenamide as first line treatment in naive HIV patients in a rapid-initiation model of care: BIC NOW clinical trial [Poster]. Paper presented at: 19th European AIDS Conference (EACS); October 18-21, 2023; Warsaw, Poland.

8. Ryan P, Cuevas G, Torres P, et al. Simplified Access and Retention Model for Vulnerable People With HIV: SIMPLIFIED Study Results. [Poster #693]. Paper presented at: Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); March 9-12, 2025; San Francisco.

9. Ambrosioni J, de Lazzari E, Sanchez-Palomino S, et al. Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide for primary HIV infection: Efficacy, safety and impact on viral reservoir (the BIC-PHI clinical trial). J Infect. 2025;91(5):106651.

10. Al‑Hayani AWM, Carrillo I, Cabello A, et al. Starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the first HIV-specialist appointment with or without baseline laboratory data with BIC/FTC/TAF (the BIFAST study) [Poster]. Paper presented at: AIDS 2022; 29 July-2 August, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

11. Psichogiou M, Protopapas K, Roussos S, et al. Rapid ART initiation with BIC/FTC/TAF in HIV-positive people who inject drugs (naive or re-linking to care) : a pilot study of an integrated care model (BFT AFDU study) [Poster 2886]. Paper presented at: AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference; July 22-26, 2024; Munich, Germany, and virtually.

12. Camici M, Gagliardini R, Lanini S, et al. Rapid ART initiation with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in individuals presenting with advanced HIV disease (Rainbow study). Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2024;63(1):107049.

13. Ugarte A, de la Mora L, Chivite I, et al. Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain: a prospective clinical trial [Poster P076]. Paper presented at: HIV Glasgow 23-26 October, 2022; Glasgow, UK.

14. Wang R, Sun L, Wang X, et al. Rapid Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy with Coformulated Bictegravir, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Alafenamide Versus Efavirenz, Lamivudine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in HIV-positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: Week 48 Results of the Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial [Supplement]. Clin Infect Dis. 2024:ciae012.

Abbreviations

3TC=lamivudine
AE=adverse event
ART=antiretroviral therapy
ARV=antiretroviral
BIC=bictegravir
c/mL=copies/mL
CD=cluster of differentiation
DRV/c=darunavir/cobicistat
EFV=efavirenz
FTC=emtricitabine
MSM=men who have sex with men
PRO=patient‑reported outcome
PWH=people with HIV
PY=person-years
SAE=serious adverse event
TAF=tenofovir alafenamide
TC=total cholesterol
TDF=tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
TG=triglycerides
VL=viral load

Product Label

For the full indication, important safety information, and boxed warning(s), please refer to the Biktarvy US Prescribing Information available at:
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