abacavir + lamivudine + NNRTI

This three-drug antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen consists of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), abacavir and lamivudine, combined with a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), typically nevirapine or efavirenz. It was evaluated as a standard-of-care strategy in the ARROW (AntiRetroviral Research fOr Watoto) trial, a randomized factorial trial conducted in Uganda and Zimbabwe by the UK Medical Research Council. The regimen works by inhibiting the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme through two distinct mechanisms: the NRTIs (abacavir and lamivudine) act as chain terminators during viral DNA synthesis, while the NNRTI component binds to an allosteric site on the enzyme to induce a conformational change that halts its activity. This combination is used for the long-term management of HIV infection in pediatric patients, providing robust viral suppression and facilitating immune system recovery.

Other names

ABC + 3TC + NNRTIabacavir + lamivudine + nevirapineabacavir + lamivudine + efavirenzARROW trial regimen