PK of TAF and TDF for PrEP in Pregnant and Postpartum Women

This study will establish benchmarks of TFV-DP concentrations as measures of adherence following daily dosing with Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) compared with Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) during pregnancy and postpartum. Study Investigators will recruit from an ongoing observational cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa, PrEP-PP (recruitment ongoing through July, 2021; NIMH R01MH116771; PI Coates & Myer). Findings form this PK sub-study will be used to inform future PrEP in pregnancy and postpartum studies and develop benchmarks of the relative PK between TDF and TAF.

Study aims. (1) To establish benchmarks of TFV-DP concentrations as measures of adherence following daily dosing with TAF vs TDF in pregnancy and again in postpartum; (2) To compare the difference of TFV-DP within TDF and TAF for pregnancy vs. postpartum, and to establish adherence benchmarks of levels of TFV in breastmilk in postpartum women and compare with TDF sample.

The study will take place in an urban township in Cape Town (Gugulethu) with high HIV incidence that spans the different socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic groups in South Africa. We selected this community because of the high HIV prevalence there in pregnant and breastfeeding women, and because of the high number of mothers visiting every month for ANC and labour/delivery.

Inclusion criteria

• >18 years old
• confirmed HIV-negative (confirmed with a 4th generation antigen HIV test) at time of study entry
• intend on giving birth in the MOU facility
• confirmed to be 14-24 weeks pregnant
• without psychiatric or medical contraindications to PrEP
• estimated creatinine clearance (CrCI) >60mL/min
• resides close to clinic (<10km)
• has a smart phone that can take video footage (with data bundle from study)
• agrees to provide video phone footage of taking a pill a day for 8 weeks during pregnancy and again for 8 weeks in postpartum period

Exclusion criteria

Individuals not meeting the above criteria or meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:

• Concurrent enrolment in another HIV-1 vaccine or prevention trial
• History of renal disease
• Current clinical diagnosis of hypertension
• Exhibiting psychotic symptoms
• Currently or history of taking an anti-psychotic medication
• Positive Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test on screening
• History of bone fracture not related to trauma
• Any other medical, psychiatric or social condition which in the opinion of the investigators would affect the ability to consent and/or participate in the study
• Any maternal or fetal complication, obstetric or medical, detected during routine care or study procedures that requires referral of pregnant or postpartum women/infants to secondary or tertiary obstetric or medical care.