Islatravir

Drug

Drug Profile

Islatravir is an antiviral agent in the nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor (NRTTI) class developed for HIV treatment. Clinical development has included standalone and fixed-dose combination programs, with a marketed doravirine/islatravir tablet approved in 2026. The active triphosphate metabolite inhibits reverse transcriptase with immediate and delayed chain-termination effects.

Drug Class
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor (NRTTI)
Approval Status
Present in FDA-approved combination product (Idvynso), first approved April 20, 2026.
Mechanism of Action
After phosphorylation to islatravir-triphosphate, inhibits reverse transcriptase by blocking translocation and preventing further nucleotide incorporation.
Brand Names
  • Idvynso
Indications
  • \HIV-1 infection in adults (as part of doravirine/islatravir complete regimen for virologically suppressed adults)\

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The U.S. FDA has accepted Gilead's application for an investigational once-weekly oral lenacapavir for HIV prevention, with a review date set for February 2027. Concurrently, PEPFAR and The Global Fund are expanding access to the twice-yearly injectable version to a total of 3 million people by 2028. Gilead will present new data on both lenacapavir and a novel bictegravir/lenacapavir combination at CROI 2026.

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The FDA is set to make decisions on four drug applications in April 2026, including Orca-T for hematological malignancies, orforglipron for obesity, sparsentan for kidney disease, and a doravirine/islatravir combination for HIV-1.

Related Clinical Trials

NCT ID Title Status Phase
NCT06719570

A Study of Doravirine and Islatravir as a Single Entity or Combination Therapy and the Effect of Food in Healthy Adult Participants (MK-8591A-055)

COMPLETED PHASE1
NCT06619678

A Study of MK-8507 and Islatravir (MK-8591) in Healthy Adult Participants (MK-8507-016)

COMPLETED PHASE1
NCT05130086

A Study of Islatravir (MK-8591) in Trans and Gender Diverse Participants (MK-8591-035)

WITHDRAWN PHASE2
NCT05115838

Radiopaque Matrix MK-8591 Implant in Participants at Low-Risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infection (MK-8591-043)

WITHDRAWN PHASE2
NCT04644029

Oral ISL QM as PrEP in Cisgender Women at High Risk for HIV-1 Infection (MK-8591-022)

TERMINATED PHASE3
NCT04568603

Islatravir and Methadone Pharmacokinetics (MK-8591-029)

COMPLETED PHASE1
NCT04564547

Dose Ranging, Switch Study of Islatravir (MK-8591) and Ulonivirine (MK-8507) Once-Weekly in Virologically-Suppressed Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) [MK-8591-013]

COMPLETED PHASE2
NCT04515641

Single-Dose Islatravir in Moderate Hepatic Impairment (MK-8591-030)

COMPLETED PHASE1
NCT04303156

Pharmacokinetics of Islatravir in Participants With Severe Renal Impairment (MK-8591-026)

COMPLETED PHASE1
NCT04003103

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Oral Islatravir (MK-8591) Once Monthly in Participants at Low Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) Infection (MK-8591-016)

COMPLETED PHASE2