The HIV pill that could help patients keep the weight off
A South African study has identified doravirine as an effective alternative to the standard HIV drug dolutegravir, offering similar viral suppression with significantly less weight gain. This finding provides a new treatment option for patients concerned about metabolic side effects.
Why it matters
Reducing side effects like weight gain can improve long-term adherence to HIV treatment regimens, potentially leading to better health outcomes for millions of patients.
For millions living with HIV, the daily pill has become a lifeline . But for some, it can come with a hefty side effect: extra kilos that pile up over time and can bring diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease closer.
If you’re a black, 34-year-old South African woman living with HIV, antiretroviral (ARV) treatment options have likely been limited to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), lamivudine (3TC) and the ‘gold standard’ dolutegravir (DTG). Until now.
At the 2026 International Aids Society Conference on HIV Science, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it was announced that South African researchers have found a potentially important alternative — an HIV treatment that suppresses the virus as effectively as the widely used “gold standard” drug dolutegravir, but with significantly less weight gain.
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