February 27, 2024
2 min read
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Key takeaways:
- Long-acting ART for HIV is effective at helping people who do not adhere with daily oral ART achieve viral suppression.
- Roughly 70% of people in the U.S. who take ART achieve viral suppression.
Results from an ongoing trial showed that long-acting injectable ART for HIV is effective for people who struggle to consistently take a daily course of medication, the NIH and ViiV Healthcare announced.
Interim findings from the randomized Long-Acting Therapy to Improve Treatment Success in Daily Life (LATITUDE) study demonstrated that viral suppression was more likely with long-acting ART compared with daily oral ART for people unable to follow their daily regimen.
Long-acting ART for HIV can effectively help people who struggle with a daily pill regimen to achieve viral suppression. Image: NIAID
As a result, an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) suggested that researchers stop randomly assigning participants and invite all eligible participants to take long-acting ART.
Roughly 70% of people in the United States who take ART achieve HIV viral suppression, but some have trouble adhering to the medication, according to the CDC. Long-acting forms of ART have been developed for people with barriers to accessing or adhering to oral therapy, and previous studies have shown they are safe and effective.
“There are many reasons why people may find it challenging to stay on daily oral treatment, and the LATITUDE study shows cabotegravir and rilpivirine injectable treatment can help them keep their virus suppressed, which benefits their overall health,” Kimberly Smith, MD, MPH, head of research and development at ViiV Healthcare, said in a press release.
“Optimizing therapy for all people living with HIV, including those with adherence challenges, is critical to the effort to end the HIV epidemic,” Smith said.
LATITUDE is ongoing at 31 sites in the U.S. that, at the outset, enrolled patients to receive adherence support while taking daily oral ART to achieve viral suppression, the NIH said in a press release. Those who reached viral suppression were then randomly assigned to receive long-acting ART every 4 weeks or to continue with oral ART.
The DSMB review of interim data showed that taking long-acting ART once every 4 weeks was more effective for study participants over daily oral ART, leading the board to recommend all study participants be allowed to choose their preferred form.
“The interim data indicating the superiority of long-acting therapy compared with daily oral therapy in individuals who have difficulty taking pills for HIV every day is a remarkable outcome,” Smith said.
Injectable ART is also approved in the U.S. for 2-month dosing, meaning people can receive treatment as few as six times per year.
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