The Long-Acting Cabotegravir Tail as an Implementation Challenge: Planning for Safe Discontinuation.
AIDS Behav
; 27(1): 4-9, 2023 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36056997
ABSTRACT
The long-acting feature of cabotegravir, an integrase-inhibitor highly effective in preventing acquisition of HIV in adolescents and adults, is both its greatest strength and a challenge to its implementation. Cab-LA is administered at 8-week intervals (after an initial loading dose) but has a long, variable drug "tail" that may leave users vulnerable to future drug resistance if they contract HIV during this critical period. The potential for cab-LA to meaningfully contribute to ending the HIV Epidemic is hindered by, among other factors, limited resources to guide patients and providers on how to safely discontinue injections. We suggest three key strategies to overcome this specific challenge (1) Comprehensive patient education and counseling about the drug tail; (2) Training and coaching PrEP care teams, including clinical and non-clinical staff, on communication around the tail; (3) Adherence support strategies, including monitoring of cabotegravir drug levels after discontinuation, for a personalized medicine approach to safe discontinuation.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
HIV Infections
/
HIV Integrase Inhibitors
/
Anti-HIV Agents
/
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Type of study:
Sysrev_observational_studies
Aspects:
Implementation_research
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
AIDS Behav
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
SINDROME DA IMUNODEFICIENCIA ADQUIRIDA (AIDS)
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States