ViiV Healthcare’s long-acting Cabenuva (cabotegravir + rilpivirine) for HIV demonstrates superior efficacy compared to daily oral therapy for people with adherence challenges; results published in NEJM

Final results from the phase III LATITUDE study show that switching to the long‑acting injectable regimen Cabenuva (cabotegravir + rilpivirine) reduced the risk of regimen failure by nearly half compared with continuing daily oral ART over 48 weeks in people with a history of adherence challenges.

In the study, 453 participants with difficulties maintaining daily ART or who had disengaged from care were enrolled. After receiving adherence support and achieving viral suppression on oral ART, 306 participants were randomized to either continue daily oral therapy or switch to monthly Cabenuva injections.

The primary endpoint—a composite of virologic failure and treatment discontinuation—favored the long-acting regimen: 22.8% regimen failure in the injectable arm vs. 41.2% in the oral therapy arm. Virologic failures were less common among those receiving the long‑acting regimen (3%) than in the oral ART arm (21%).

Safety profiles were similar between groups, with injection site reactions being the most common adverse event in the long‑acting arm. A small number of participants in both arms developed new resistance-associated mutations.

The findings support the value of long‑acting injectable therapy for individuals with adherence challenges. ViiV Healthcare is also conducting the CROWN study, which further evaluates this approach in people with detectable viral load.

Additional information to the following link: ViiV Healthcare’s long-acting Cabenuva (cabotegravir + rilpivirine) for HIV demonstrates superior efficacy compared to daily oral therapy for people with adherence challenges; results published in NEJM | GSK