Long-acting injectable HIV treatment keeps working outside the lab. Real-world data from over 7,900 patients show that 94% maintained undetectable HIV levels after switching from daily oral pills to cabotegravir/rilpivirine injections, with only 1% experiencing virologic failure over 5+ years. A separate South African study in youth aged 12–24 echoed these results, with 95.5% achieving viral suppression at 48 weeks.
Real-world evidence is now backing up what clinical trials have long suggested: long-acting injectable HIV treatment works — and patients want to stay on it. Data from the OPERA cohort, presented at IDWeek 2026, tracked nearly 8,000 HIV patients in the U.S. who switched from daily oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) to bimonthly cabotegravir/rilpivirine (Cabenuva) injections. The results were reassuring: 94% maintained undetectable HIV levels, and virologic failure occurred in just 1% of patients over more than five years.
A complementary study from South Africa reinforced these findings in a younger population. Among 134 people aged 12–24 living with HIV — including those with prior adherence struggles — 95.5% achieved viral suppression at 48 weeks, with zero confirmed virologic failures and near-universal retention in the study.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: Despite strong clinical trial data, long-acting injectable ART has seen slow real-world uptake, representing just 5% of HIV prescriptions. These findings — spanning diverse U.S. adults and South African youth — could help build provider confidence and expand access to a treatment option that removes the burden of daily pill-taking.
