The launch status and price of cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension

Cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension (cabotegravir and rilpivirine), as an innovative long-acting HIV treatment option, has attracted much attention since its inception. The drug consists of two active ingredients: cabotegravir and rilpivirine. The former is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor, and the latter is HIV-1 non-nuclear Glycoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, the two work synergistically to provide a new treatment option for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and above.

The launch of cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension has undoubtedly injected new vitality into the HIV treatment field. On 20211 month21, this drug was officially approved by the US Food and Drug AdministrationFDA, with the trade name Cabenuva. This milestone progress marks that HIV treatment has entered a new era of long-acting injections. In Europe, the price of the original drug is about RMB 10,000. Although this price is high, considering its long-term effect and convenience, it is still a treatment option worth considering for many patients.

However, unfortunately, cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension has not yet been launched in my country. This means that for patients in our country, this drug cannot be obtained directly domestically. However, patients in need of medicines can learn how to obtain medicines by consulting local hospital pharmacies or formal overseas medical consulting agencies.

In terms of efficacy, cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension has demonstrated good antiviral effects. Verified by clinical trials, the drug can effectively inhibit the replication of HIV viruses and help patients maintain a virologically suppressed state. This therapeutic effect is of great significance for improving patients' quality of life and prolonging survival.

In addition to efficacy, the storage and use of drugs are also important aspects that patients and medical staff need to pay attention to. Cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension needs to be placed in the original carton and stored in a refrigerator at 2-8℃ until just before use. Before administration, the vial should be brought to room temperature (not exceeding 25°C) and kept in the carton for no more than 6Hours. Once the suspended drug is drawn into the syringe, it should be injected as soon as possible and should only be retained in the syringe for up to 2 hours. After this time limit, medications, syringes and needles need to be discarded to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the medication.

In summary, the launch of cabotegravir/rilpivirine injection suspension provides patients with a new treatment option, but its high price and the fact that it has not yet been launched in my country have also brought certain challenges to patients in obtaining the drug. We hope that there will be more opportunities in the future for this innovative drug to benefit more HIV infected people.

Reference link: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/212888s011lbl.pdf