PAC-CI/MODERATO Program: For the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, a clinical trial has demonstrated the effectiveness of a dual-therapy strategy in HIV-infected patients with viral suppression.

At the International AIDS Society, Dr. Fatoumata Fadiga, Project Manager for the PAC-CI Program, presented key final results from the MODERATO clinical trial yesterday, July 15, 2025. 

As a reminder, the primary objective of this clinical trial was to demonstrate, among participants who had achieved virologic success with TDF+XTC+EFV or DTG+3TC+TDF for at least two years, the non-inferiority at 96 weeks of a strategy involving a switch to a two-drug maintenance regimen (based on DTG+3TC or ATV/r+3TC), compared to the strategy of continuing the WHO-recommended triple therapy with TDF+3TC+EFV or DTG+3TC+TDF.

For the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, a clinical trial has demonstrated the efficacy of a dual-therapy strategy in HIV-infected patients who are virologically controlled. This supports the WHO recommendations released the day before, on July 14, 2025, regarding this type of strategy. 

The MODERATO clinical trial was led by principal investigators Prof. Serge Eholié and Dr. Roland Landman and coordinated by Dr. Raoul Moh and Aida Benalycherif.

A big thank you to the participants from the three countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon. To the sponsor, ANRS-MIE, and to VIATRIS. To the co-investigators: Prof. Charles Kouanfack, Prof. Joseph Drabo, Prof. Ismaël Diallo, Prof. Armel Poda, Dr. Zelica Diallo, Dr. Gustave N’zunetu, Dr. Eugène Messou, Dr. Amani Anzian, and all the IT, monitoring, and laboratory teams.