FIVE YEARS OF U.S. REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE REINFORCE THE DURABLE EFFECTIVENESS AND LONG-TERM PERSISTENCE OF ViiV HEALTHCARE’S CABENUVA

  • 77% of participants remained in care and on long-acting HIV treatment, Cabenuva, with a median treatment duration of 18 months
  • Among individuals switching to Cabenuva, 94% had a last viral load <50 copies/mL and 81% maintained continuous viral suppression with only 1% experiencing confirmed virologic failure
  • Study demonstrated real-world impact across a diverse study population, with Black (43%) and Hispanic/Latine (32%) adults representing three-quarters of participants; overall, participants included individuals aged 50+ (23%) and those with BMI≥30 kg/m2 (30%)

London, 21 October 2026 – ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Shionogi as a shareholder, today announced evidence from the OPERA observational cohort spanning five years of real-world use of Cabenuva (long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine [CAB+RPV LA]) for HIV treatment in the U.S. and offering important insights into long-term clinical outcomes for adults living with HIV-1.

The study evaluated treatment durability – defined as maintaining viral suppression over time – and persistence, defined as remaining on therapy in routine care. In HIV care, durability and persistence are important clinical measures to help protect long-term health and prevent drug resistance. Among virologically suppressed adults in the United States who switched from oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) to CAB+RPV LA, after a median treatment duration of 18 months, the data highlight the sustained effectiveness of the long-acting injectable regimen for HIV treatment.

The findings will be presented at IDWeek 2026 in Washington, D.C., to be held October 21–24.

Dr. Ricky K. Hsu, Lead Study Author, National Medical Director, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, said: “By evaluating nearly 7,000 individuals in routine clinical care, this analysis gathered over the five-year OPERA study adds to and strengthens the clinical and real-world evidence base for long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine. The data offer vital, highly encouraging insights around treatment persistence with the long-acting therapy, showing that overall discontinuations were low and not commonly attributed to a lack of therapeutic efficacy or injection site pain. These are important insights for healthcare providers as they consider the full breadth of treatment options available to their patients.”

The OPERA cohort analysis evaluated 6,955 virologically suppressed adults who switched from a daily oral ART to CAB+RPV LA between January 2021 and December 2025, with follow-up through February 2026. A diverse, real-world population was included in the study: 43% of participants were Black (n=3,002), 32% Hispanic/Latine (n=2,215), 23% aged ≥50 years (n=1,603), 57% (n=3,959) living in the Southern U.S., and 30% with BMI≥30kg/m2 (n=2,100).1

Among 6,362 complete initiators (participants who complete the first two injections ≤67 days apart), 77% (n=4,879) remained in care and on CAB+RPV LA, with a median treatment duration of 18 months (IQR: 9, 31). Among 6,058 complete initiators with follow-up viral load (VL), 94% (n=5,700) of individuals had their last viral load measured at <50 copies/mL, 81% (n=4,891) maintained viral suppression at every visit (<50 copies/mL), and 1% (n=68) experienced confirmed virologic failure.1

Jean van Wyk, MBChB, MFPM, Chief Medical Officer at ViiV Healthcare, said: “Long-term, real-world evidence is critical to help us better understand the impact of HIV treatment outside of the clinical trial setting. In this analysis gathered over five years from the OPERA cohort, cabotegravir and rilpivirine demonstrated durable and consistent viral suppression within a large and diverse patient population, with high persistence in routine care. These findings showcase the important role a long-acting injectable (LAI) can play in treatment adherence for people living with HIV and underscore the value of providing options in addition to daily oral regimens. As the leader in long-acting medicines for HIV, we believe LAIs can help bring us closer to ending the HIV epidemic.”

To evaluate treatment persistence, the study used electronic surveys completed by healthcare providers with suspected CAB+RPV LA discontinuations in their patients, and discontinuations were confirmed for 213 individuals. The most common reported reasons for stopping CAB+RPV LA were adherence issues (28%, n=59), loss to care (24%, n=51), and preference for another regimen (15%, n=31).1

CABENUVA (cabotegravir; rilpivirine) extended-release injectable suspensions
Professional Indication and Important Safety Information

INDICATION

CABENUVA is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 35 kg to replace the current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Do not use CABENUVA in patients with previous hypersensitivity reaction to cabotegravir or rilpivirine
  • Do not use CABENUVA in patients receiving carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, systemic dexamethasone (>1 dose), and St John’s wort

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Hypersensitivity Reactions:

  • Serious or severe hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in association with other integrase inhibitors and could occur with CABENUVA
  • Hypersensitivity reactions, including cases of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), have been reported during postmarketing experience with rilpivirine-containing regimens. While some skin reactions were accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as fever, other skin reactions were associated with organ dysfunctions, including elevations in hepatic serum biochemistries
  • Discontinue CABENUVA immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop. Clinical status, including liver transaminases, should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated. Cabotegravir and rilpivirine oral lead-in may be used to help identify patients who may be at risk of a hypersensitivity reaction

Post-Injection Reactions:

  • Serious post-injection reactions (reported in less than 1% of subjects) were reported within minutes after the injection of rilpivirine, including dyspnea, bronchospasm, agitation, abdominal cramping, rash/urticaria, dizziness, flushing, sweating, oral numbness, changes in blood pressure, and pain (e.g., back and chest). These events may have been associated with accidental intravenous administration and began to resolve within a few minutes after the injection
  • Carefully follow the Instructions for Use when preparing and administering CABENUVA. The suspensions should be injected slowly via intramuscular injection and avoid accidental intravenous administration. Observe patients briefly (approximately 10 minutes) after the injection. If a post-injection reaction occurs, monitor and treat as clinically indicated

Hepatotoxicity:

  • Hepatotoxicity has been reported in patients receiving cabotegravir or rilpivirine with or without known pre-existing hepatic disease or identifiable risk factors
  • Patients with underlying liver disease or marked elevations in transaminases prior to treatment may be at increased risk for worsening or development of transaminase elevations
  • Monitoring of liver chemistries is recommended and treatment with CABENUVA should be discontinued if hepatotoxicity is suspected

Depressive Disorders:

  • Depressive disorders (including depressed mood, depression, major depression, mood altered, mood swings, dysphoria, negative thoughts, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt) have been reported with CABENUVA or the individual products
  • Promptly evaluate patients with depressive symptoms
  • Risk of Adverse Reactions or Loss of Virologic Response Due to Drug Interactions:
    • The concomitant use of CABENUVA and other drugs may result in known or potentially significant drug interactions (see Contraindications and Drug Interactions)
    • Rilpivirine doses 3 and 12 times higher than the recommended oral dosage can prolong the QTc interval
    • CABENUVA should be used with caution in combination with drugs with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes

Long-Acting Properties and Potential Associated Risks with CABENUVA:

  • Residual concentrations of cabotegravir and rilpivirine may remain in the systemic circulation of patients for prolonged periods (up to 12 months or longer). Select appropriate patients who agree to the required monthly or every-2-month injection dosing schedule because non-adherence could lead to loss of virologic response and development of resistance
  • To minimize the potential risk of developing viral resistance, it is essential to initiate an alternative, fully suppressive antiretroviral regimen no later than 1 month after the final injection doses of CABENUVA when dosed monthly and no later than 2 months after the final injections of CABENUVA when dosed every 2 months. If virologic failure is suspected, switch the patient to an alternative regimen as soon as possible

ADVERSE REACTIONS

  • The most common adverse reactions in adults (incidence ≥2%, all grades) treated with CABENUVA were injection site reactions, pyrexia, fatigue, headache, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, sleep disorders, dizziness, and rash
  • The safety of CABENUVA in adolescents is expected to be similar to adults

DRUG INTERACTIONS

  • Refer to the applicable full Prescribing Information for important drug interactions with CABENUVA, VOCABRIA (cabotegravir), or EDURANT (rilpivirine)
  • Because CABENUVA is a complete regimen, coadministration with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV-1 infection is not recommended
  • Drugs that are strong inducers of UGT1A1 or UGT1A9 are expected to decrease the plasma concentrations of cabotegravir. Drugs that induce or inhibit CYP3A may affect the plasma concentrations of rilpivirine
  • CABENUVA should be used with caution in combination with drugs with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

  • Pregnancy: There are insufficient human data on the use of CABENUVA during pregnancy to adequately assess a drug-associated risk for birth defects and miscarriage. Discuss the benefit-risk of using CABENUVA during pregnancy and conception and consider that cabotegravir and rilpivirine are detected in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after discontinuing injections of CABENUVA. An Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry has been established
  • Lactation: Potential risks of breastfeeding include HIV-1 transmission, developing viral resistance in HIV-positive infants, and adverse reactions in a breastfed infant

For more information, please see full US Prescribing Information for CABENUVA: https://gskpro.com/content/dam/global/hcpportal/en_US/Prescribing_Information/Cabenuva/pdf/CABENUVA-PI-PIL-IFU2-IFU3.PDF

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

About ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 with GSK (LSE: GSK) and Shionogi as current shareholders. The company is dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. ViiV Healthcare’s aims to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV.

For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com.

About GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

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Reference:

  1. Hsu RK, Sension MG, Fusco JS, et al. High suppression and rare virologic failure with long-acting cabotegravir + rilpivirine: real world evidence over five years from the OPERA cohort. Presented at: IDWeek 2026; October 21-24, 2026; Washington, DC