SAFETY UPDATE: Once daily darunavir-cobicistat (Prezcobix™, Symtuza™) not recommended for use during pregnancy

On December 20th, 2018 Health Canada issued an information update: Antiretroviral products containing darunavir 800 mg – cobicistat 150 mg for once daily administration (Prezcobix™, Symtuza™) are not recommended for use during pregnancy because of substantially lower exposures of darunavir and cobicistat during pregnancy.

Results from a small clinical trial found administration of darunavir 800 mg with cobicistat 150 mg once daily, in combination with other antiretrovirals, resulted in substantially lower exposure of darunavir and cobicistat during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy compared to the postpartum (non-pregnant) state. The Prezcobix™ and Symtuza™ product monographs recommend use of an alternative antiretroviral regimen for women who become pregnant during therapy with these products.

For more information Click here to go to the Health Canada’s Health Product InfoWatch bulletin

For information on antiretroviral prescribing during pregnancy Click here to view the Oak Tree Clinic, BC Women’s Hospital guidelines (scroll down the page to “British Columbia Guidelines for the Care of HIV Positive Pregnant Women & Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Transmission”)

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