Pharmacist Medication Insights: Cabenuva for HIV
Cabenuva, the first long-acting injectable for the treatment of HIV, is a 2-drug copackaged product containing cabotegravir and rilpivirine.
Among the newest medications for HIV infections, the FDA recently approved cabotegravir and rilpivirine (Cabenuva, ViiV Healthcare), the first injectable regimen for HIV-infected adults, as a monthly injection. Officials also recently approved an oral form of cabotegravir (Vocabria) to be used with rilpivirine 1 month prior to starting therapy with Cabenuva injections.
Recommended dosing with Cabenuva is to begin with cabotegravir 30 mg once daily and rilpivirine 25 mg once daily, then to start Cabenuva 600 mg and rilpivirine 900 mg injection from the second month forward. Health care providers should evaluate the appropriateness of each patient for this therapy, taking into consideration injections, refrigeration, dosing intervals, and adverse effects.
