Bimonthly Administered Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine Are Highly Effective and Well-Tolerated in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Above 65 Years

TL;DR

Long-acting HIV treatment is effective and well-tolerated in people over 65 with HIV, according to a study with 135 participants.

Contribution

Demonstrates the efficacy and safety of bimonthly LA-CAB/RPV in older HIV patients, an underrepresented group.

Findings

All participants maintained virological suppression after 17.4 months of treatment.

11.1% of participants discontinued the treatment within the first 12 months.

One case of HBV reactivation occurred 19.4 months after starting treatment.

Abstract

Older people with HIV (PWH) may benefit from long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine (LA-CAB/RPV), a population underrepresented in trials and observational cohorts. In the GEPPO cohort, 135 PWH >65 years of age received bimonthly LA-CAB/RPV. After 17.4 months, virological suppression (HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) was maintained in all, while 15 participants discontinued them (11.1%, 10% in the first 12 months): 1 participant with isolated HbCAb at baseline showed a late HBV reactivation (19.4 months after starting). These findings support LA-CAB/RPV's efficacy and tolerability in older PWH.

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