Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV-1 infection as documented by any licensed ELISA test and confirmed by Western Blot or other confirmatory test at any time prior to study entry. Acceptable alternative confirmatory tests are plasma HIV-1 RNA, HIV-1 culture, HIV-1 antigen, or a second antibody test by a method other than ELISA.
• Age 18 years or older.
• Able to provide informed consent.
• In the opinion of the investigator, able to comply with study medication and procedures.
• Plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 1000 copies/mL as measured by any FDA-approved test for quantifying HIV-1 RNA within 90 days prior to study entry.
• Less than or equal to 10 days of cumulative exposure to antiretroviral therapy.

• For all women of reproductive potential, a negative urine or serum β-HCG pregnancy test performed within 48 hours prior to study entry.

  • All study volunteers, both male and female, must agree not to participate in a conception process (i.e., active attempt to become pregnant or to impregnate, sperm donation, in vitro fertilization) while receiving study medications and for 6 weeks after stopping study medications.
  • If participating in sexual activity that could lead to conception, study volunteers must agree to use at least one method of reliable contraception which must be a barrier method (i.e., a condom without spermicide, a diaphragm, or cervical cap) throughout the study and for 6 weeks thereafter.

NOTE: Acceptable documentation of lack of reproductive potential for a woman is self-reported history of being postmenopausal for at least 24 months, or having had surgical sterilization (hysterectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy, or bilateral tubal ligation) or of male partner's azoospermia. Acceptable documentation for a man is self-reported history of azoospermia.

• Hemoglobin ≥ 7.5 g/dL within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 500/mm³ within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Platelets ≥ 50,000/mm³ within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Prothrombin time < 1.50 X upper limit of normal (ULN) within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3X ULN or bilirubin ≤ 2.5 ULN within 45 days prior to study entry.
• GFR ≥ 60 as calculated by MDRD within 45 days prior to study entry.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior receipt of etravirine, dapivirine (TMC120), or rilpivirine (TMC 278).

• Evidence of any of the resistance-associated mutations listed below at baseline on genotype testing performed at the study screening visit. Any pending resistance testing ordered prior to study entry must be available for review by the investigator prior to enrollment. Major resistance mutations include:

  1. Any of the following NNRTI mutations: V90I, A98G, L100I, K101E/H/P/Q, K103H/S/T, V106A/I/M, V108I, E138A/G/K/Q, V179D/E/F/G/I/T, Y181C/I/V, Y188C/H/L, V189I, G190A/C/E/Q/S, H221Y, P225H, F227C/L, M230I/L, P236L, K238N/T, K103N.
  2. Any of the following NRTI mutations: M184V/I, K70E/R, K65R, M41L, 69 insert, K70R, L210W, T215Y/F, K219Q/E.
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would be likely to interfere with ability to take the study medications appropriately and comply with the study protocol.
• Use of any systemic antineoplastic or immunomodulatory treatment, systemic corticosteroids, investigational vaccines, interleukins, interferons, growth factors, or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within 30 days prior to study entry.

NOTE: Routine standard of care, including hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcus, and tetanus vaccines are permitted.

• Current active illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization until the individual completes therapy or, in the opinion of the investigator, is clinically stable on therapy for at least 7 days prior to study entry.
• Life expectancy of less than 6 months.
• Acute viral hepatitis.
• Known allergy/hypersensitivity to components of the study drugs or their formulations.
• Use of any medications that are prohibited during the study period (see Section 8.1 of the protocol - Prohibited Medications).