Long-Acting HIV Therapy in African Adults with Adherence Challenges

In eastern and southern Africa, approximately 1 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and receiving oral therapy do not have viral suppression because of adherence challenges.

We conducted a phase 3b, open-label, randomized trial to compare long-acting injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine with oral dolutegravir-based therapy among adults with virally suppressed HIV type 1 (viral load, <200 copies per milliliter) and suboptimal adherence or care engagement. The participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive intramuscular injections of cabotegravir (600 mg) plus rilpivirine (900 mg) every 8 weeks, with the first two injection visits occurring 4 weeks apart, or to continue daily oral dolutegravir-based therapy; baseline drug-resistance testing was not performed. The primary end point was a viral load of less than 50 copies per milliliter at week 48; noninferiority was assessed with a margin of -10 percentage points. Confirmed virologic failure (two consecutive viral loads of ≥200 copies per milliliter) was a key secondary end point.