Switching from Daily Oral HIV Treatment to Injectable Cabotegravir + Rilpivirine

Oral bictegravir + emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is one of the most commonly prescribed initial therapies for HIV. Now, investigators report results of a manufacturer-sponsored open-label randomized trial comparing continuation of this oral regimen with switching to injectable cabotegravir + rilpivirine (dosed every 2 months).

Among 670 participants who were virologically suppressed on daily oral bictegravir + emtricitabine + TAF, 447 switched to injectable therapy and 223 continued their oral regimen. About 12 months later, only 1% of participants who switched to injectable therapy and 0.4% of those who continued oral therapy had HIV RNA levels >50 copies/mL. Three participants in the injectable group had (or developed) resist…