Earlier this week, Dr. Blackwell’s original article, ” Monthly Injectable Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine to Manage HIV Infection in Adults” was published in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Written with Dr. Blackwell’s frequent collaborator and colleague, Dr. Humberto Lopez-Castillo, the article explores a new treatment strategy for managing HIV-1 infection in the United States using an injectable antiretroviral combination agent. The abstract appears below:
The FDA recently approved a unique treatment regimen for management of HIV-1 infection in adults. A one-time per month injection of cabotegravir/rilpivirine can replace a current, stable antiretroviral regimen in those with virologic suppression, without history of treatment failure, or known or suspected resistance with cabotegravir or rilpivirine. A one-month oral trial should be initiated before switching to the extended-release injectable formulation. Cabotegravir/rilpivirine showed continued virologic suppression without clinically relevant changes in CD4+ cell counts. Clinicians should understand this new HIV regimen, its indications and suitability for select patients, administration and dosing, interactions, and most reported adverse events.