optimized background antiretroviral therapy

Optimized background antiretroviral (ARV) therapy is not a single drug or fixed combination product, but rather a tailored regimen of antiretroviral drugs selected for an individual patient with HIV, typically in the context of clinical trials or treatment-experienced patients. The regimen is “optimized” based on the patient’s prior ARV history, resistance testing results, tolerability, and other clinical factors to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. The goal is to maintain or reestablish viral suppression while preserving future treatment options. Optimized background ARV therapy may include any combination of approved ARVs from different classes—such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), entry inhibitors, and others—chosen according to individual resistance profiles and previous drug exposures[1][5][6]. This approach is commonly used in studies evaluating new investigational agents added “on top” of an optimized regimen.

Other names

optimized background ARV therapyoptimized background antiretroviral therapyOBT