BACKGROUND: CAB+RPV LA is the only complete long-acting regimen for treatment of virologically suppressed people with HIV (PWH). As an injectable therapeutic administered by a healthcare provider (HCP), CAB+RPV LA may alleviate adherence challenges with daily oral therapy and reduce fear of HIV status disclosure for some PWH. Real world perspectives from HCPs and PWH will enable successful delivery of this treatment in US healthcare settings.
METHODS: BEYOND is a 2-year prospective, observational, real-world study of utilization, outcomes, and experience of PWH initiating CAB+RPV LA across 30 US sites. Data presented here is from surveys of HCPs at participating sites (a treater, injector, and drug acquisition/reimbursement specialist from each site) completed at baseline (BL)/site activation (Sep 2021-Feb 2022), and a follow-up survey after 6 months evaluating CAB+RPV LA implementation experience.
RESULTS: Survey responses were received from 30 sites at BL and 26 sites at follow-up (Table). Most treaters (69% at follow-up; 57% at BL) reported proactively discussing CAB+RPV LA with at least half of PWH in their clinic. At follow-up, 85% of treaters reported they were extremely/very positive about administering CAB+RPV LA (12% somewhat positive). Over 90% of injectors at follow-up reported a positive overall opinion about administering CAB+RPV LA, and 83% reported injections were easy to administer. Most HCPs (96%) reported injection visits taking ≤45 minutes, including waiting time, up from 87% at BL; those reporting injection visits taking <30 minutes increased from 33% at BL to 58% at follow-up. Nearly half (46%) made changes to patient reminder systems since implementing CAB+RPV LA, including additional/more frequent reminders and adding a new follow-up system. At follow-up, majority (73%) of sites reported it had taken ≤6 months to optimally implement CAB+RPV LA. HCPs who utilized reimbursement specialists found them to be extremely/very helpful (16/18; 89% at follow-up). Most frequently reported benefits of implementing CAB+RPV LA were assurance of patient adherence (65%) and patient engagement in their HIV treatment (42%).
CONCLUSION: Real-world data from US HCPs in this study indicate a positive overall opinion, progress on clinic implementation, and additional benefits of administering the CAB+RPV LA regimen to PWH.
