Apretude Shows Over 99% Effectiveness in Real-World HIV Prevention Studies
Key Insights
Real-world studies demonstrate Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting injectable) has over 99% effectiveness in preventing HIV (search), reinforcing its potential as a PrEP option.
The PILLAR implementation study reveals that Apretude reduces PrEP-related stigma and anxiety among men who have sex with men and transgender men, compared to daily oral PrEP.
Participants in the PILLAR trial reported high acceptability of Apretude, citing convenience and reduced worry about missing doses, despite some injection site reactions.
Real-world studies have demonstrated that Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting injectable) is over 99% effective in preventing HIV (search), according to data presented by ViiV Healthcare. These findings reinforce Apretude's potential to address key challenges in HIV prevention, particularly among diverse communities. The PILLAR implementation study specifically highlights the benefits of Apretude in reducing stigma and anxiety associated with daily oral PrEP.
PILLAR Study: Addressing Stigma and Anxiety
The PILLAR trial, a phase 4 implementation study, assessed the integration of cabotegravir long-acting (CAB LA) for PrEP across 17 U.S. clinics. The study included over 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender men (TGM), with 23% identifying as Black and 39% as Hispanic/Latino. The six-month findings indicated that participants using CAB LA for PrEP reported lower rates of PrEP stigma and anxiety compared to their prior experience with daily oral PrEP.
Specifically, at the initiation of the trial, 15% of participants worried about privacy while taking oral PrEP, 24% felt they had to hide their PrEP use, and 29% expressed worry about stigma. After six months on CAB LA for PrEP, these concerns significantly decreased, with less than 1% reporting concerns about privacy and only 1% expressing worry about stigma. Participants also noted that CAB LA for PrEP reduced the stress and fear of missing a dose, providing greater confidence in their HIV (search) protection.
Acceptability and Adherence
CAB LA for PrEP demonstrated high levels of acceptability among users, with mean acceptability scores increasing from 4.4 at baseline (SD: 0.69) to 4.6 at six months (SD: 0.61). Interviewees highlighted the convenience of CAB LA for PrEP in their lives. Flexible clinic scheduling, transportation assistance, and the use of virtual appointments were identified as valuable facilitators of adherence.
While 45% of participants reported injection site reactions (ISRs), 86% returned to daily activities on the same day, and few reported being significantly bothered by injection pain (8%). Those initially bothered by injection pain reported that the pain decreased over subsequent injections.
These studies underscore ViiV Healthcare's commitment to generating real-world evidence for CAB LA for PrEP, furthering its implementation, and understanding its impact on diverse communities benefiting from HIV (search) prevention. Further research will continue to explore the long-term benefits and optimize the use of CAB LA for PrEP.