Consumer medicine information

Cabenuva

Cabotegravir; Rilpivirine

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Cabenuva

Active ingredient

Cabotegravir; Rilpivirine

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Cabenuva.

SUMMARY CMI

CABENUVA

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

▼ This medicine is new or being used differently. Please report side effects. See the full CMI for further details.

1. What is CABENUVA and what is it used for?

CABENUVA contains the active ingredients cabotegravir and rilpivirine. CABENUVA is used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in adults aged 18 years and over. For more information, see Section 1. What is CABENUVA and what is it used for? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I am given CABENUVA?

Do not use CABENUVA if you have ever had an allergic reaction to cabotegravir, rilpivirine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I am given CABENUVA? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with CABENUVA and affect how it works. A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How is CABENUVA given?

  • You will be given CABENUVA as two injections, once every month or once every two months. A nurse or doctor will give you the injections in the muscle on each side of your buttocks (intramuscular injection [IM]).
  • You should continue receiving CABENUVA for as long as your doctor recommends. Do not stop unless your doctor advises you.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is CABENUVA given? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while being given CABENUVA?

Things you should do
  • Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using CABENUVA.
  • Attend your planned appointments to have CABENUVA injections, have regular blood tests and stay in regular contact with your doctor.
  • Continue to protect people as CABENUVA may stop you passing HIV infection on to others.
Things you should not do
  • Do not stop using CABENUVA without talking to your doctor.
  • Do not take CABENUVA with certain medicines that treat bacterial infections or anticonvulsants, or products containing St John's wort.
Driving or using machines
  • CABENUVA injections can make you dizzy and have other side effects that make you less alert.
  • Do not drive or use machines unless you are sure you are not affected.
Looking after your medicine
  • Keep your injections in the pack until it is time to receive them.
  • Keep your injections in a refrigerator at 2°C - 8°C. Do not freeze.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while being given CABENUVA? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

The following common side effects may occur when using CABENUVA: headache, injection site reactions, feeling hot, depression, anxiety, abnormal dreams, insomnia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, rash, muscle, chest or back pain and fatigue. Contact your doctor promptly if you develop an allergic reaction or have liver problems.

Whilst very rare, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are serious and life-threatening. Contact your doctor straight away if you develop painful red or purple skin, blisters on your skin, mouth, nose and genitals and red, painful, watery eyes.

For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.

▼ This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.



FULL CMI

CABENUVA

Active ingredients: cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection and rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using CABENUVA. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using CABENUVA.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. What is CABENUVA and what is it used for?
2. What should I know before I am given CABENUVA?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is CABENUVA given?
5. What should I know while being given CABENUVA?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. What is CABENUVA and what is it used for?

CABENUVA contains two medicines, cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection and rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection, packaged together. Cabotegravir belongs to a group of anti-retroviral medicines called integrase inhibitors (INIs) and rilpivirine belongs to a group of antiretroviral medicines called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).

CABENUVA is used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in adults aged 18 years and over.

CABENUVA does not cure HIV infection; it keeps the amount of virus in your body at a low level. This helps maintain the number of CD4+ cells in your blood. CD4+ cells are a type of white blood cell that are important in helping your body to fight infection.

CABENUVA will replace your current antiretroviral treatment. To control your HIV infection, you must attend your planned appointments to receive CABENUVA, unless your doctor tells you to stop. If you stop CABENUVA, it is important to see your doctor who will give you other antiretroviral medicines to treat your HIV infection.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine for children and adolescents under the age of 18 years.

2. What should I know before I am given CABENUVA?

Regular appointments are important
It is important that you attend your planned appointments to receive your CABENUVA injections, to control your HIV infection, and to stop your illness from getting worse. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about stopping treatment. If you are late receiving your CABENUVA injections, or if you stop receiving CABENUVA, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV infection and to reduce the risk of developing viral resistance.

CABENUVA is a long-acting medication. If you stop treatment, low levels of cabotegravir and rilpivirine (the active ingredients of CABENUVA) can remain in your system for up to 12 months or more and 4 years, respectively, after your last injections. These low levels of medicine could cause interactions with other medicines and will not protect you against the virus and the virus may become resistant. You must start a different HIV treatment within one month of your last CABENUVA injections if you are having monthly injections, and within two months of your last CABENUVA injections if you are having injections every two months

Warnings

You must not be given CABENUVA if:

  • you are allergic to cabotegravir or rilpivirine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  • always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
  • if you are taking rifampicin or rifapentine (to treat some bacterial infections such as tuberculosis) or phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine (anticonvulsants used to treat epilepsy and prevent seizures) or medicines containing St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum), a herbal product used to treat depression.
  • the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Check with your doctor if you:

  • have any other medical conditions, such as kidney or liver problems. Your liver function will be monitored by your doctor during treatment with CABENUVA.
  • take any medicines for any other condition.

Symptoms of infection and inflammation:

People with advanced HIV infection (AIDS) have weak immune systems, and are more likely to develop serious infections (opportunistic infections). When they start treatment, the immune system becomes stronger, so the body starts to fight infections.

Symptoms of infection and inflammation may develop, caused by either:

  • old, hidden infections flaring up again as the body fights them
  • the immune system attacking healthy body tissue (autoimmune disorders).

The symptoms of autoimmune disorders may develop many months after you start taking medicine to treat your HIV infection.

  • Symptoms may include:
  • muscle weakness and/or muscle pain
  • joint pain or swelling
  • weakness beginning in the hands feet and moving towards the trunk of the body
  • palpitations or tremor
  • hyperactivity (excessive restlessness and movement).

If you get any symptoms of infection or if you notice any of the symptoms above tell your doctor immediately. Don't take other medicines for the infection without your doctors' advice.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits, to you and your baby, of receiving CABENUVA injections while pregnant.

If you are planning to have a baby, talk to your doctor in advance, as the injections in CABENUVA can stay in your system for up to 12 months or longer after the last injections.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Where possible, women who are HIV-positive should not breastfeed, because HIV infection can be passed on to the baby in breast milk.

It is not known whether the ingredients in the CABENUVA injections can pass into breast milk and harm your baby. They may still pass into breast milk for 12 months after the last injections.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and the CABENUVA injections may interfere with each other. These include:

  • carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin (also known as anticonvulsants used to treat epilepsy and prevent seizures)
  • rifabutin, rifampicin or rifapentine (to treat some bacterial infections such as tuberculosis)
  • clarithromycin and erythromycin (antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections)
  • methadone (a medicine used for pain)
  • dexamethasone (a corticosteroid used in a variety of conditions such as inflammation and allergic reactions)
  • products containing St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum), a herbal product used to treat depression.
  • medicines for the treatment of hepatitis C.

These medicines may be affected by CABENUVA injections or may affect how well they work. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect CABENUVA.

4. How is CABENUVA given?

How much is given

  • When you first start treatment with CABENUVA, you and your doctor may decide to start directly with CABENUVA injections.
  • Alternatively, your doctor may advise you to take VOCABRIA (cabotegravir) tablets (30 mg) and rilpivirine tablets (25 mg), once a day, for one month (lead-in period) before your first CABENUVA injections. Taking VOCABRIA tablets and rilpivirine tablets before you receive CABENUVA injections will allow your doctor to test how well you tolerate these medicines.
  • In the second month (following 1 month oral treatment) you will receive CABENUVA 3 mL injections (cabotegravir 600 mg in 3 mL injection and rilpivirine 900 mg in 3 mL injection) at the same visit.
  • Following this, you will be given CABENUVA as two injections, either once every month or once every 2 months. Your doctor will advise you of your dosing schedule.

How CABENUVA is given

  • You will be given CABENUVA as two injections, once every month or once every two months.
  • A nurse or doctor will give you the injections in the muscle on each side of your buttocks (intramuscular injection [IM]).

How long should CABENUVA be given for

Continue receiving your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.

CABENUVA injections are prolonged-release medications, so if you stop treatment, the injections will remain in your system for up to a year or more after your last injection.

It is important that you attend your planned appointments to receive your CABENUVA injections.

If you miss your CABENUVA injections

If you miss an appointment to receive your injections, contact your doctor right away to make a new appointment.

Talk to your doctor if you think you will not be able to receive your CABENUVA injections at the usual time. Your doctor may recommend you take VOCABRIA and rilpivirine tablets instead, until you are able to receive your CABENUVA injections again.

Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about stopping treatment. You will need to take other medicines to treat your HIV infection and prevent development of viral resistance if you are late receiving or stop receiving CABENUVA injections.

These medicines help to control your condition but do not cure it. It is important to keep receiving your medicines even if you feel well.

If you are given too much CABENUVA

A doctor or nurse will give these injections to you, so it is unlikely that you will be given too much. If you are worried, talk to the doctor or nurse.

5. What should I know while being given CABENUVA?

Things you should do

  • Have regular blood tests

For as long as you're receiving CABENUVA, your doctor will arrange regular blood tests to check for side effects.

  • Stay in regular contact with your doctor

CABENUVA helps to control your condition, but it is not a cure for HIV infection. Your need to receive CABENUVA injections once every month or once every 2 months (depending on your dosing schedule) to stop your illness getting worse. Because CABENUVA does not cure HIV infection, you may still develop other infections or illnesses linked to HIV infection.

Keep in contact with your doctor and attend your planned appointments to receive CABENUVA injections. Don't stop without your doctor's advice.

  • Protect other people

HIV infection is spread by sexual contact with someone who has the infection, or by transfer of infected blood (for example, by sharing injection needles). CABENUVA will not stop you passing HIV infection on to other people. To protect other people from becoming infected with HIV:

  • Use a condom when you have oral or penetrative sex.
  • Don't risk blood transfer - for example, don't share needles

Call your doctor straight away if you:

  • If you become pregnant while receiving CABENUVA.

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using CABENUVA.

Things you should not do

  • Do not pass on your medicine to anyone else. It may harm them even if they have the same condition as you.
  • Do not stop your medicine without talking to your doctor.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how CABENUVA affects you.

These injections may cause dizziness, in some people or other side effects that make you less alert.

If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Looking after your medicine

  • Keep your injections in the pack until it is time to receive them.
  • Keep your injections in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. Do not freeze.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

When you are being treated for HIV, it can be hard to tell whether a symptom is a side effect of the CABENUVA injections or other medicines you are taking, or an effect of the HIV disease itself. It is very important to talk to your doctor about any changes in your health.

Some side effects may only be seen in your blood tests and may not appear immediately after you start receiving CABENUVA injections. If you get any of these side effects, and if they are severe, your doctor may advise you to stop CABENUVA injections.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effectsWhat to do
Injection site reactions:Very common*
  • Pain & tenderness, a hardened mass or lump
Common**
  • Redness, itching, swelling, warmth, numbness or bruising (which may include discolouration or a collection of blood under the skin)
Uncommon***
  • An abscess (collection of pus)
Nervous system and psychiatric disorders:Very common
  • Headache
Common
  • Dizziness
  • Depression (feelings of deep sadness and unworthiness)
  • Anxiety
  • Abnormal dreams
  • Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
Uncommon
  • Feeling drowsy (somnolence)
Gastrointestinal disorders:Common
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Being sick (vomiting)
  • Stomach (abdominal) pain or discomfort
  • Wind (flatulence)
General disorders:Very common
  • Feeling hot (pyrexia), which may occur within one week after injections
Common
  • Lack of energy (fatigue)
  • Feeling weak (asthenia)
  • Generally feeling unwell (malaise)
Other:Common
  • Rash
  • Muscle pain (myalgia)
  • Pain (e.g. back and chest)
Uncommon
  • Weight gain
Side effects that may show up in blood tests:
  • increase in bilirubin (a substance produced by the liver) in the blood
  • an increase in lipase (an enzyme produced by the pancreas).
  • an increase in the level of enzymes produced in the muscles (creatine phosphokinase, creatinine)
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

*Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

** Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

***Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

Serious side effects

Serious side effectsWhat to do
Allergic reactions:
  • Rash, itching or hives on skin
  • High temperature (fever)
  • Lack of energy (fatigue)
  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscle or joint aches
Liver disorders:Uncommon***
  • Changes in liver blood tests (increase in transaminases)
  • Liver damage (signs may include yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, loss of appetite, itching, tenderness of the stomach, light-coloured stools or unusually dark urine). (hepatotoxicity)
PsychologicalUncommon***
  • suicidal thoughts*
  • Suicidal attempt*
* mainly in patients who have had depression or mental health problems before.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Very rare
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are serious life-threatening conditions which usually start with flu-like symptoms. A few days later other symptoms appear including:
    - painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
    - blisters on your skin, mouth, nose and genitals red, painful, watery eyes
Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

***Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.

What CABENUVA contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)		CABENUVA 2 mL
  • cabotegravir 400 mg
  • rilpivirine 600 mg
CABENUVA 3 mL
  • cabotegravir 600 mg
  • rilpivirine 900 mg
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)		Cabotegravir injections:
  • mannitol
  • polysorbate 20
  • macrogol 3350
  • water for injections
Rilpivirine injections:
  • citric acid monohydrate
  • glucose monohydrate
  • poloxamer
  • sodium phosphate monohydrate
  • sodium hydroxide
  • water for injections

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What CABENUVA looks like

CABENUVA 2 mL

Each carton contains the following components:

  • 1 vial of 2 mL cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection which is a white to light pink suspension.
  • 1 vial of 2 mL rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection which is a white to off-white suspension
  • 2 vial adaptors
  • 2 syringes
  • 2 needles (23 gauge, 1½ inch)

CABENUVA 3 mL

Each carton contains the following components:

  • 1 vial of 3 mL cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection which is a white to light pink suspension.
  • 1 vial of 3 mL rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection which is a white to off-white suspension
  • 2 vial adaptors
  • 2 syringes
  • 2 needles (23 gauge, 1½ inch)

AUST R 323783 & 323784.

Who distributes CABENUVA

ViiV Healthcare Pty Ltd
Level 4, 436 Johnston Street
Abbotsford, VIC 3067
Australia

Trademarks are owned by or licenced to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

© 2025 ViiV Healthcare group of companies or its licensor.

This leaflet was prepared in January 2025.

Version 6.0

Published by MIMS March 2025

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Cabenuva

Active ingredient

Cabotegravir; Rilpivirine

Schedule

S4

 

1 Name of Medicine

Cabotegravir and rilpivirine.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Cabenuva contains cabotegravir 200 mg/mL (400 mg/2 mL or 600 mg/3 mL) prolonged-release suspension for injection and rilpivirine 300 mg/mL (600 mg/2 mL or 900 mg/3 mL) prolonged-release suspension for injection.

List of excipients with known effect.

None.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection is a white to light pink suspension.
Rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection is a white to off-white suspension.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Cabenuva (cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection and rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection) is indicated for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in adults who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies per mL) and have no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Clinical trials).

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Cabenuva should be prescribed by a physician experienced in the management of HIV infection.
Dosing for Cabenuva consists of 3 distinct phases: An optional oral lead-in with cabotegravir (Vocabria) and rilpivirine (Edurant) tablets taken together, initiation injections of Cabenuva, and continuation injections with Cabenuva.
Prior to starting Vocabria tablets, healthcare professionals should carefully select patients who agree to the required injection schedule and counsel patients about the importance of adherence to scheduled dosing visits to help maintain viral suppression and reduce the risk of viral rebound and potential development of resistance with missed doses.

Adults.

The healthcare provider and patient may proceed directly to cabotegravir and rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension injections, Cabenuva. Alternatively, cabotegravir and rilpivirine oral tablets may be used as an oral lead-in prior to the initiation of Cabenuva injections to assess tolerability to cabotegravir and rilpivirine (see Table 1).
Optional oral lead-in dosing. When used for oral lead-in cabotegravir (Vocabria) 30 mg tablet and one rilpivirine (Edurant) 25 mg tablet, co-administered once daily, should be used for approximately 1 month (at least 28 days) prior to the initiation of Cabenuva, to assess the tolerability of cabotegravir and rilpivirine. Cabotegravir tablets may be taken with or without food. When taken at the same time as rilpivirine tablets both should be taken with a meal. Consult the full prescribing information for Vocabria (cabotegravir) and Edurant (rilpivirine). See Table 1 for recommended oral dosing.
Monthly dosing.

Initiation injection (3 mL dosing).

Initiate injections on the final day of prior antiretroviral therapy or oral lead in therapy (see Table 2). The recommended initial injection doses of Cabenuva in adults are a single 3 mL (600 mg) intramuscular (IM) injection of cabotegravir and a single 3 mL (900 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine.

Continuation injection (2 mL dosing).

One month following the initiation injections, the recommended continuation injection doses of Cabenuva in adults are a single 2 mL (400 mg) IM injection of cabotegravir and a single 2 mL (600 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine, administered monthly (see Table 2).
Patients may be given Cabenuva up to 7 days before or after the date of the scheduled monthly 2 mL injection dosing visit (see Table 4).
Every 2 month dosing.

Initiation injection (3 mL dosing).

Initiate injections on the final day of prior antiretroviral therapy or oral lead in therapy (see Table 3). The recommended initial injection doses of Cabenuva in adults are a single 3 mL (600 mg) IM injection of cabotegravir and a single 3 mL (900 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine. One month later, a second 3 mL (600 mg) IM injection of cabotegravir and 3 mL (900 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine should be administered. Patients may be given the second initiation doses up to 7 days before or after the scheduled dosing date.

Continuation injection.

After the second initiation injections the recommended continuation injection doses of Cabenuva in adults are a single 3 mL (600 mg) IM injection of cabotegravir and a single 3 mL (900 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine administered every 2 months. Patients may be given injections up to 7 days before or after the date of the every 2 month, 3 mL dosing schedule.
In the clinical trial (ATLAS 2M), a higher rate of confirmed virological failure (CVF, two consecutive plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 200 copies per mL) was seen with the 2 monthly injection schedule (8/522, 1.5%) as compared to the 1 monthly schedule (2/523, 0.4%) (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Resistance in vivo).

Change in dosing frequency.

Dosing recommendations when switching from monthly to every 2 month injections. Patients switching from a monthly continuation injection schedule to an every 2 month continuation injection dosing schedule should receive a single 3 mL (600 mg) IM injection of cabotegravir and a single 3 mL (900 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine one month after the last 2 mL (400 mg) cabotegravir and 2 mL (600 mg) rilpivirine continuation injection doses and then 3 mL (600 mg) of cabotegravir and 3 mL (900 mg) of rilpivirine every 2 months thereafter.
Dosing recommendations when switching from every 2 month to monthly injections. Patients switching from an every 2 month continuation injection schedule to a monthly continuation dosing schedule should receive a single 2 mL (400 mg) IM injection of cabotegravir and a single 2 mL (600 mg) IM injection of rilpivirine 2 months after the last 3 mL (600 mg) continuation injection dose of cabotegravir and the last 3 mL (900 mg) continuation injection dose of rilpivirine and then 2 mL (400 mg) of cabotegravir and 2 mL (600 mg) of rilpivirine monthly thereafter.
Missed doses. Adherence to the injection dosing schedule is strongly recommended, to help maintain viral suppression, reduce the risk of viral rebound and potential development of resistance with missed doses. Patients who miss a scheduled injection visit should be clinically reassessed to ensure resumption of therapy remains appropriate (see Tables 4 and 5).

Missed monthly injections.

If a deviation of more than 7 days from a scheduled injection visit cannot be avoided, oral therapy (one cabotegravir 30 mg tablet (Vocabria) and one rilpivirine 25 mg tablet (Edurant) once daily) may be used to replace up to 2 consecutive monthly injection visits. For oral therapy durations greater than two months, an alternative oral regimen is recommended. The first dose of oral therapy should be taken approximately one month (+/- 7 days) after the last injection dose of Cabenuva. Injection dosing should be resumed on the day oral dosing completes, as recommended in Table 4.

Missed 2 month injection.

If a deviation of more than 7 days from a scheduled injection visit cannot be avoided, oral therapy (one cabotegravir 30 mg tablet (Vocabria) and one rilpivirine 25 mg tablet (Edurant) once daily) may be used to replace one 2-monthly injection visit. For oral therapy durations greater than two months, an alternative oral regimen is recommended. The first dose of oral therapy should be taken approximately two months (+/- 7 days) after the last injection dose of Cabenuva. Injection dosing should be resumed on the day oral dosing completes, as recommended in Table 5.

Elderly.

No dose adjustment is required in elderly patients. There are limited data available on the use of cabotegravir in patients aged 65 years and over (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special patient populations).

Renal impairment.

No dosage adjustment of Cabenuva is required for patients with mild (creatinine clearance ≥ 60 to < 90 mL/min), to moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≥ 30 to < 60 mL/min) and not on dialysis. Cabenuva has not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment or end stage renal disease (creatinine clearance ≥ 15 to < 30 mL/min) or in patients on dialysis; increased monitoring for adverse events is recommended (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special patient populations).

Hepatic impairment.

No dosage adjustment is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score A or B). Cabenuva has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score C) (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special patient populations).

Paediatric and adolescent population.

The safety and efficacy of Cabenuva in children and adolescents aged under 18 years has not been established.

Method of administration.

Cabenuva should be administered by a healthcare professional. Prior to administration, vials should be brought to room temperature (not to exceed 25°C).
For gluteal intramuscular (IM) injection use only. Do not inject intravenously.
Cabotegravir and rilpivirine injections should be administered at separate gluteal injection sites during the same visit.
A complete dose requires two (2) injections: one injection of cabotegravir and one injection of rilpivirine. Refer to the Instructions for Use for complete administration instructions with illustrations. Carefully follow these instructions when preparing the suspension to avoid leakage.
Cabenuva is for single use in one patient only.
When administering Cabenuva, healthcare professionals should take into consideration the body mass index (BMI) of the patient to ensure that the needle length is sufficient to reach the gluteus muscle. The 1.5 inch length needle provided in the pack may not be sufficient for patients with high BMI. Longer needle lengths (not included in the dosing kit) may be required for patients with higher BMI (example: greater than 30 kg/m2).

4.3 Contraindications

Cabenuva is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to cabotegravir or rilpivirine or to any of the excipients listed in Section 6.1.
Cabenuva is contraindicated in combination with the following (see Section 4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions):
anticonvulsants: phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine;
antimycobacterials: rifabutin, rifampicin, rifapentine;
glucocorticoids: systemic dexamethasone (except as a single dose treatment);
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Risk of resistance following treatment discontinuation.

To minimise the risk of developing viral resistance it is essential to adopt an alternative, fully suppressive antiretroviral regimen no later than one month after the final injection doses of Cabenuva when dosed monthly and no later than two months after the final injection doses of Cabenuva when dosed every 2 months.
If virologic failure is suspected, an alternative regimen should be adopted as soon as possible.

Hypersensitivity reactions.

Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in association with integrase inhibitors. These reactions were characterised by rash, constitutional findings and sometimes organ dysfunction, including liver injury. Discontinue Cabenuva and other suspected medicinal products immediately, should signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity develop (including, but not limited to, severe rash, or rash accompanied by fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, facial oedema, hepatitis, eosinophilia or angioedema). Clinical status, including liver aminotransferases should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration; Section 4.3 Contraindications; see Prolonged-release properties of Cabenuva; Section 4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects); Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties).

Post-injection reactions.

In clinical trials, serious post-injection reactions were reported within minutes after the injection of rilpivirine. These events included symptoms such as dyspnea, bronchospasm, agitation, abdominal cramping, rash/urticaria, dizziness, flushing, sweating, oral numbness, changes in blood pressure and pain (e.g. back and chest). These events were uncommon and began to resolve after the injection and some of the patients received supportive care. These events may have been associated with accidental intravenous administration during the intramuscular injection procedure.
Carefully follow the Instructions for Use when preparing and administering Cabenuva. Prior to administration the Cabenuva vial should be brought to room temperature. The suspension should be injected slowly, and care should be taken to avoid accidental intravenous administration. Observe patients briefly (approximately 10 minutes) after injection. If a patient experiences a post-injection reaction, monitor, and treat as clinically indicated.

Hepatotoxicity.

Hepatotoxicity has been reported in a limited number of patients receiving cabotegravir with or without known pre-existing hepatic disease (see Section 4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)).
Monitoring of liver chemistries is recommended and treatment with Cabenuva should be discontinued if hepatotoxicity is suspected (see Prolonged-release properties of Cabenuva).

Prolonged-release properties of Cabenuva.

Residual subtherapeutic concentrations of cabotegravir and rilpivirine may persist in the systemic circulation of patients for prolonged periods (up to 12 months or longer) following discontinuation of Cabenuva treatment. These pose no pharmacokinetic (PK) related limitations to alternative antiretroviral treatment (ART) selection. The prolonged-release characteristics of Cabenuva should be taken into consideration when the medicinal product is discontinued (see Section 4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions; Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation; Section 4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines; Section 4.9 Overdose).

Interactions with medicinal products.

Caution should be given to prescribing Cabenuva with other medicinal products that may result in known or potentially significant drug interactions (see Section 4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions).

Opportunistic infections.

Patients receiving Cabenuva or any other antiretroviral therapy may still develop opportunistic infections and other complications of HIV infection. Therefore, patients should remain under close clinical observation by physicians experienced in the treatment of these associated HIV diseases.

Transmission of infection.

While effective viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy has been proven to substantially reduce the risk of sexual transmission, a residual risk cannot be excluded. Precautions to prevent transmission should be taken in accordance with national guidelines.

Use in hepatic impairment.

See Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration; Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special patient populations.

Use in renal impairment.

See Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration; Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special patient populations.

Use in the elderly.

See Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration; Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special patient populations.

Paediatric use.

The safety and efficacy of Cabenuva in children and adolescents aged under 18 years has not been established. No data is available.

Effects on laboratory tests.

Small, non-progressive increases in total bilirubin (without clinical jaundice) were observed with treatment with Cabenuva. These changes are not considered clinically relevant as they likely reflect competition between cabotegravir and unconjugated bilirubin for a common clearance pathway (UGT1A1).
Elevated transaminases (ALT/AST) were observed in subjects receiving Cabenuva during the clinical studies. These elevations were primarily attributed to acute viral hepatitis. A few subjects had transaminase elevations attributed to suspected drug-related hepatotoxicity.
Elevated lipases were observed during clinical trials with cabotegravir + rilpivirine; Grade 3 and 4 lipase increases occurred at a higher incidence with cabotegravir + rilpivirine compared with the CAR group. These elevations were generally asymptomatic and did not lead to discontinuation.
Asymptomatic creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations mainly in association with exercise, have also been reported with cabotegravir plus rilpivirine treatment.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

Because Cabenuva is a complete regimen, coadministration with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV-1 infection is not recommended (see Section 4.1 Therapeutic Indications). There are no limitations on the use of other antiretroviral medications after discontinuing Cabenuva.

Effect of other medicinal products on the pharmacokinetics of cabotegravir and rilpivirine.

Cabotegravir.

Cabotegravir is primarily metabolised by uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) 1A1 with some contribution from UGT1A9. Medicinal products which are strong inducers of UGT1A1 or UGT1A9 are expected to decrease cabotegravir plasma concentrations leading to lack of efficacy (see Section 4.3 Contraindications).
Simulations using physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling show that no clinically significant interaction is expected following co-administration of cabotegravir with medicines that inhibit UGT enzymes.
In vitro, cabotegravir was not a substrate of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1, OATP1B3, OATP2B1 or organic cation transporter (OCT1).
Cabotegravir is a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), however, because of its high permeability, no alteration in absorption is expected when co-administered with either P-gp or BCRP inhibitors.

Rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine is primarily metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A, and medicinal products that induce or inhibit CYP3A may thus affect the clearance of rilpivirine (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties). Co-administration of rilpivirine and medicinal products that induce CYP3A may result in decreased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine which could potentially reduce the therapeutic effect of rilpivirine. Co-administration of rilpivirine and medicinal products that inhibit CYP3A may result in increased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine.

Effect of cabotegravir and rilpivirine on the pharmacokinetics of other medicinal products.

Cabotegravir.

In vivo, cabotegravir did not have an effect on midazolam, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 probe. Cabotegravir is not a clinically relevant inhibitor of the following enzymes and transporters: CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, UGT2B4, UGT2B7, UGT2B15, and UGT2B17, P-gp, BCRP, Bile salt export pump (BSEP), OCT1, OCT2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE) 1, MATE 2-K, multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 2 or MRP4.
Cabotegravir inhibited the organic anion transporters (OAT) 1 (IC50 = 0.81 microM) and OAT3 (IC50 = 0.41 microM) in vitro, however, based on PBPK modelling no interaction with OAT substrates is expected at clinically relevant concentrations.
In vitro, cabotegravir did not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6, or CYP3A4.
Based on these data and the results of drug interaction studies, cabotegravir is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of medicinal products that are substrates of these enzymes or transporters.
Based on the in vitro and clinical drug interaction profile, cabotegravir is not expected to alter concentrations of other anti-retroviral medications including protease inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, entry inhibitors or ibalizumab.

Rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine is not likely to have a clinically relevant effect on the exposure of medicinal products metabolised by CYP enzymes.
No drug interaction studies have been performed with cabotegravir or rilpivirine when administered as an IM injection. The drug interaction data provided in Table 6 is obtained from studies with oral cabotegravir and drug interaction data provided in Table 7 is obtained from studies with oral rilpivirine.

QT prolonging drugs.

There is limited information available on the potential for a pharmacodynamic interaction between rilpivirine and medicinal products that prolong the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram. In a study of healthy subjects, supratherapeutic doses of oral rilpivirine (75 mg once daily and 300 mg once daily) have been shown to prolong the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram. Plasma rilpivirine concentrations after rilpivirine injections are comparable to those achieved with oral rilpivirine at a dose of 25 mg once daily (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties). Rilpivirine should be used with caution when co-administered with a medicinal product with a known risk of torsade de pointes.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

Cabotegravir.

There are no data on the effects of cabotegravir on human male or female fertility. Animal studies indicate no effects of cabotegravir on male or female fertility.
Cabotegravir when administered orally to male and female rats at 1,000 mg/kg/day (> 30 times the exposure in humans at the Maximum Recommended Human Dose [MHRD] of 30 mg oral or 400 mg intramuscular (IM) dose) for up to 26 weeks did not cause adverse effects on male or female reproductive organs or spermatogenesis. No functional effects on male or female mating or fertility were observed in rats given cabotegravir at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day.

Rilpivirine.

There are no data on the effect of rilpivirine on human male or female fertility.
In a study conducted in rats, there were no effects on mating or fertility with oral rilpivirine up to 400 mg/kg/day.
(Category B1)
There are no studies of cabotegravir injection or rilpivirine injection in pregnant women. The effect of Cabenuva on human pregnancy is unknown.
Cabenuva should be used during pregnancy only if the expected benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Cabotegravir and rilpivirine have been detected in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after an injection, therefore, consideration should be given to the potential for fetal exposure during pregnancy (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use). Lower exposures of oral rilpivirine were observed during pregnancy, therefore viral load should be monitored closely.
Cabotegravir crossed the placenta in pregnant rats and could be detected in fetal tissues. Cabotegravir was not teratogenic in rats at oral doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (> 30 times the exposure in humans at the MRHD of 30 mg oral or 400 mg IM dose) but caused a delay in delivery that was associated with reduced survival and viability of rat offspring; there was no effect on survival when fetuses were delivered by caesarean section. Exposures at the NOAEL were at least 11 times the exposure in humans at the MRHD of 30 mg oral or 400 mg IM dose. The relevance to human pregnancy is unknown.
Studies in animals have shown no evidence of relevant embryonic or fetal toxicity or an effect on reproductive function with rilpivirine. There was no teratogenicity with oral rilpivirine in rats and rabbits. The exposures at the embryo fetal No Observed Adverse Effects Levels (NOAELs) in rats and rabbits were respectively 15 and 70 times higher than the exposure in humans at the recommended dose of 25 mg once daily.
To monitor maternal-fetal outcomes of pregnant women, an Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry has been established (http://www.apregistry.com) for rilpivirine and cabotegravir.
This is a voluntary prospective, exposure-registration, observational study designed to collect and evaluate data on the outcomes of pregnancy exposures to antiretroviral products. For rilpivirine, sufficient first trimester exposures are available to allow detection of at least a two-fold increase in risk of overall birth defects. No such increases have been detected to date.
 Health experts recommend that where possible HIV-1 infected women should not breastfeed their infants in order to avoid transmission of HIV-1. In settings where formula feeding is not feasible, local official lactation and treatment guidelines should be followed when considering breast feeding during antiretroviral therapy.
It is expected that cabotegravir and rilpivirine will be secreted into human milk based on animal data, although this has not been confirmed in humans. Cabotegravir and rilpivirine may be present in human milk for up to 12 months or longer after the last cabotegravir or rilpivirine injection.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

There have been no studies to investigate the effect of cabotegravir or rilpivirine injection on driving performance or the ability to operate machinery. The clinical status of the patient and the adverse event profile of Cabenuva should be borne in mind when considering the patient's ability to drive or operate machinery.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

Clinical trial data.

The safety assessment of Cabenuva given monthly in HIV-1-infected, virologically suppressed patients is based on pooled primary Week 48 analyses of data from two international, multicentre open-label studies: FLAIR and ATLAS.
In FLAIR and ATLAS, a total of 1,182 HIV-1 infected patients were randomized to receive either a cabotegravir plus rilpivirine regimen or remain on their baseline antiretroviral regimen. Patients randomized to receive the cabotegravir plus rilpivirine regimen, initiated treatment with daily oral lead-in dosing with one 30 mg cabotegravir tablet (Vocabria) plus one 25 mg rilpivirine tablet (Edurant) for at least 4 weeks followed by treatment with cabotegravir injection plus rilpivirine injection for at least an additional 44 weeks.
The safety assessment of Cabenuva given every 2 months, is based on Week 48 analyses of data from one Phase IIIb international, multicentre open-label study, ATLAS-2M.
In ATLAS-2M, 1045 HIV-1 infected, ART experienced, virologically suppressed subjects were randomised and received a cabotegravir plus rilpivirine injection regimen administered either every 2 months or monthly. Subjects initially on non-CAB/RPV treatment received oral lead-in treatment comprising one cabotegravir 30 mg tablet (Vocabria) plus one rilpivirine 25 mg tablet (Edurant), daily, for at least 4 weeks. Subjects randomised to monthly cabotegravir injections and rilpivirine injections received treatment for an additional 44 weeks. Subjects randomised to every 2 month cabotegravir injections and rilpivirine injections for an additional 44 weeks.

Adverse events.

For many of the adverse events listed in Table 8, it is unclear whether they are related to the active substance, the wide range of other medicinal products used in the management of HIV infection, or whether they are a result of the underlying disease process.
The most common adverse events reported in greater than 10% of subjects in the group that received Cabenuva in the FLAIR and ATLAS studies were injection site pain, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, diarrhoea, injection site nodule and injection site induration.
Adverse events leading to discontinuation and occurring in more than 1 subject were injection site reactions, hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, headache, and diarrhea which occurred with an incidence of ≤ 1%. The incidence of serious adverse events was 5% in subjects receiving Cabenuva and 4% for subjects remaining on current antiretroviral therapy.

Adverse drug reactions.

ADRs are adverse events that are considered to be reasonably associated with the use of a drug based on the comprehensive assessment of the available adverse event information. A causal relationship cannot be reliably established in individual cases.
Adverse drug reactions for Cabenuva were identified from pivotal Phase III clinical studies (FLAIR and ATLAS) based on an analysis of pooled data (N=591) and ATLAS-2M at Week 48.
Cabenuva was administered as a combination regimen of cabotegravir and rilpivirine (monthly and every 2 month dosing) and associated adverse drug reactions are listed in Table 9.
Adverse drug reactions listed include those attributable to both the oral and injectable formulations of cabotegravir and rilpivirine. When frequencies differed between phase III studies, the highest frequency category is quoted in Table 9.
The most frequently reported adverse drug reactions from monthly dosing studies were injection site reactions (up to 84%), headache (up to 12%) and pyrexia4 (10%).
The most frequently reported adverse drug reactions from ATLAS-2M every 2 month dosing were injection site reactions (76%), headache (7%) and pyrexia4 (7%).
The adverse reactions considered at least possibly related to cabotegravir are listed in Table 9 by body system, organ, class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100), rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000), very rare (< 1/10,000), including isolated reports.
The overall safety profile at Week 96 and Week 124 in the FLAIR study was consistent with that observed at Week 48, with no new safety findings identified. In the extension phase of the FLAIR study, initiating the CAB prolonged-release suspension for injection plus RPV prolonged-release suspension for injection regimen with Direct to Injection did not identify any new safety concerns related to omitting the oral lead-in phase (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties).
The overall safety profile at Week 152 in the ATLAS-2M study was consistent with that observed at Week 48 and Week 96, with no new safety findings identified.

Description of selected adverse reactions.

Local injection site reactions.

In each of the three Phase III studies, approximately ≤ 1% of subjects discontinued treatment with Cabenuva because of ISRs.
When dosing monthly, out of 30,393 injections, 6815 ISRs were reported. When dosing every 2 months, out of 8470 injections, 2507 ISRs were reported.
The severity of reactions was generally mild (Grade 1, 70%-75% of subjects) or moderate (Grade 2, 27%-36% of subjects). 3-4% of subjects experienced severe (Grade 3) ISRs, and no subjects experienced Grade 4 ISRs. The median duration of overall ISR events was 3 days. The percentage of subjects reporting ISRs decreased over time.

Weight increased.

At the Week 48 time point, subjects in the FLAIR and ATLAS studies, who received Cabenuva gained a median of 1.5 kg in weight; those in the current antiretroviral therapy (CAR) group gained a median of 1.0 kg (pooled analysis). In the individual FLAIR and ATLAS studies, the median weight gains in the Cabenuva group were 1.3 kg and 1.8 kg respectively, compared to 1.5 kg and 0.3 kg in the CAR group. At the 48 week timepoint, in ATLAS-2M the median weight gain in both the monthly and 2-monthly Cabenuva group was 1.0 kg.

Post-marketing data.

See Table 10.

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

There is currently no experience with overdosage of Cabenuva.
There is no specific treatment for overdose with Cabenuva. If overdose occurs, the patient should be treated supportively with appropriate monitoring as necessary. Further management should be as clinically indicated or as recommended by the national poisons centre, where available.
Cabotegravir and rilpivirine are known to be highly protein bound in plasma; therefore, dialysis is unlikely to be helpful in removal of cabotegravir or rilpivirine from the body. Management of overdose with Cabenuva should take into consideration the prolonged exposure to the medicine following an injection (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use).
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action.

Cabotegravir inhibits HIV integrase by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integration which is essential for the HIV replication cycle.
Rilpivirine is a diarylpyrimidine non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) of HIV-1. Rilpivirine activity is mediated by non-competitive inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Rilpivirine does not inhibit the human cellular DNA polymerases α, β and γ.

Pharmacodynamic effects.

Antiviral activity in cell culture. Cabotegravir exhibited antiviral activity against laboratory strains of wild-type HIV-1 with mean concentration of cabotegravir necessary to reduce viral replication by 50 percent (EC50) values of 0.22 nanoM in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and 0.74 nanoM in 293T cells and 0.57 nanoM in MT-4 cells. Cabotegravir demonstrated antiviral activity in cell culture against a panel of 24 HIV-1 clinical isolates (three in each group of M clades A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, and 3 in group O) with EC50 values ranging from 0.02 nanoM to 1.06 nanoM for HIV-1. Cabotegravir EC50 values against three HIV-2 clinical isolates ranged from 0.10 nanoM to 0.14 nanoM. No clinical data is available in patients with HIV-2.
Rilpivirine exhibited activity against laboratory strains of wild type HIV-1 in an acutely infected T-cell line with a median EC50 value for HIV-1/IIIB of 0.73 nanoM (0.27 nanogram per mL). Although rilpivirine demonstrated limited in vitro activity against HIV-2 with EC50 values ranging from 2,510 to 10,830 nanoM (920 to 3970 nanogram per mL), treatment of HIV-2 infection with rilpivirine is not recommended in the absence of clinical data.
Rilpivirine also demonstrated antiviral activity against a broad panel of HIV-1 group M (subtype A, B, C, D, F, G, H) primary isolates with EC50 values ranging from 0.07 to 1.01 nanoM (0.03 to 0.37 nanogram/mL) and group O primary isolates with EC50 values ranging from 2.88 to 8.45 nanoM (1.06 to 3.10 nanogram/mL).
Antiviral activity in combination with other medicinal products. In in vitro combination studies, cabotegravir had weak synergistic antiviral effects with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (lamivudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, emtricitabine) and additive effects with the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, rilpivirine.
Rilpivirine showed additive antiviral activity in combination with the N(t)RTIs: abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, stavudine and tenofovir; the protease inhibitors (PIs): amprenavir, atazanavir, darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir and tipranavir; the NNRTIs: efavirenz, etravirine and nevirapine; the fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide; and the entry inhibitor maraviroc. Rilpivirine showed additive to synergistic antiviral activity in combination with the NRTIs lamivudine and zidovudine, and the integrase inhibitor raltegravir.
Effect of human serum and serum proteins. In vitro studies suggested a 408 fold shift in IC50 of cabotegravir in the presence of 100% human serum (by method of extrapolation), and the protein adjusted IC50 (PA-IC50) was estimated to be 102 nanoM in MT4 cells.
Resistance in vitro.

Isolation from wild-type HIV-1 and activity against resistant strains.

Viruses with > 10-fold increase in cabotegravir EC50 were not observed during the 112-day passage of strain IIIB. The following integrase (IN) mutations emerged after passaging wild type HIV-1 (with T124A polymorphism) in the presence of cabotegravir: Q146L (fold-change range 1.3-4.6), S153Y (fold-change range 2.8-8.4), and I162M (fold-change = 2.8). As noted above, the detection of T124A is selection of a pre-existing minority variant that does not have differential susceptibility to cabotegravir. No amino acid substitutions in the integrase region were selected when passaging the wild-type HIV-1 NL 432 in the presence of 6.4 nanoM of cabotegravir through Day 56.
Among the known integrase resistant mutants tested, mild resistance (≥ 5-fold but < 10-fold resistance) was seen with E92Q/N155H, G118R, G140S/Q148H, Y143H/N155H, Q148K, Q148R, T66K/L74M and G140S/Q148K. High resistance (≥ 10-fold resistance) was seen with E138K/Q148K, V72I/E138K/Q148K, E138K/Q148R, E138K/G140S/Q148R, L74M/V75A/G140S/Q148H, G140C/Q148R, Q148R/N155H and G140S/Q148R.
Taking into consideration all of the available in vitro and in vivo data generated with oral rilpivirine in previously untreated patients, the following amino acid substitutions, when present at baseline, may affect the activity of rilpivirine: K101E, K101P, E138A, E138G, E138K, E138Q, E138R, V179L, Y181C, Y181I, Y181V, Y188L, H221Y, F227C, M230I, and M230L, and the combination of L100I and K103N.

Cross-resistance.

In a panel of 67 HIV-1 recombinant laboratory strains, with one amino acid substitution at RT positions associated with NNRTI resistance, including the most commonly found K103N and Y181C, rilpivirine showed antiviral activity against 64 (96%) of these strains. The single amino acid substitutions associated with a loss of susceptibility to rilpivirine were: K101P, Y181I and Y181V. The K103N substitution did not result in reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine by itself, but the combination of K103N and L100I resulted in a 7-fold reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine.
Rilpivirine retained sensitivity (FC ≤ BCO) against 62% of 4786 HIV-1 recombinant clinical isolates resistant to efavirenz and/or nevirapine.
Resistance in vivo. The number of subjects who met CVF criteria was low across the pooled FLAIR and ATLAS studies. In the pooled analysis, there were 7 CVFs on cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (7/591, 1.2%) and 7 CVFs on current antiretroviral regimen (7/591, 1.2%). The 3 CVFs on cabotegravir plus rilpivirine in FLAIR with resistance data had Subtype A1 with IN substitution L74I (which by itself does not cause resistance to any INI) detected at baseline and suspected virologic failure (SVF). In addition, 2 of the 3 CVFs had treatment-emergent integrase inhibitor resistance associated substitution Q148R while 1 of the 3 had G140R with reduced phenotypic susceptibility to cabotegravir. All 3 CVFs carried one rilpivirine resistance-associated substitution: K101E, E138E/A/K/T or E138K, and 2 of the 3 showed reduced phenotypic susceptibility to rilpivirine. The 3 CVFs in ATLAS had subtype A, A1 and AG. The 2 CVFs with subtype A and A1 both carried IN substitution L74I in baseline PBMC HIV-1 DNA and at SVF in HIV-1 RNA. In addition, 1 of the 3 CVFs carried the INI resistance-associated substitution N155H at SVF. All 3 CVFs had treatment-emergent rilpivirine resistance-associated substitution: E138A, E138E/K or E138K, and showed reduced phenotypic susceptibility to rilpivirine while 1 of the 3 also showed reduced phenotypic susceptibility to cabotegravir. In 2 of these 3 CVFs, the rilpivirine resistance-associated substitutions observed at failure were also observed at baseline in PBMC HIV-1 DNA. The seventh CVF (FLAIR) never received an injection.
The substitutions associated with resistance to long-acting cabotegravir injection, observed in the pooled ATLAS and FLAIR studies were G140R (n=1), Q148R (n=2), and N155H (n=1).
In the ATLAS-2M study 10 subjects met CVF criteria through Week 48: 8 subjects (1.5%) in the every 2 month dose arm and 2 subjects (0.4%) in the monthly dose arm. Eight subjects met CVF criteria at or before the Week 24 timepoint. At SVF, the 10 CVFs had HIV-1 subtype A (n=2), A1 (n=2), B (n=4), C (n=1) or Complex (n=1).
At baseline in the every 2 month dose arm, 5 subjects had RPV resistance-associated mutations of Y181Y/C + H221H/Y, Y188Y/F/H/L, Y188L, E138A or E138E/A and 1 subject contained cabotegravir resistance mutation, G140G/R (in addition to the above Y188Y/F/H/L RPV resistance-associated mutation). At the SVF timepoint in the every 2 month dose arm, 6 subjects had rilpivirine resistance-associated mutations with 2 subjects having an addition of K101E and 1 subject having an addition of E138E/K from baseline to SVF timepoint. Rilpivirine fold-change (FC) was above the clinical cut-off for 7 subjects and ranged from 2.4 to 15. Five of the 6 subjects with rilpivirine resistance-associated substitution, also had INSTI resistance-associated substitutions, N155H (2); Q148R; Q148Q/R+N155N/H (2). INSTI substitution, L74I, was seen in 4/7 subjects. The Integrase genotype and phenotype assay failed for one subject and cabotegravir phenotype was unavailable for another. Fold-changes for the Q8W subjects ranged from 0.6 to 9.1 for cabotegravir, 0.8 to 2.2 for dolutegravir and 0.8 to 1.7 for bictegravir.
In the monthly dose arm, neither subject had any RPV or INSTI resistance-associated substitutions at baseline. One subject had the NNRTI substitution, G190Q, in combination with the NNRTI polymorphism, V189I. At SVF timepoint, one subject had on-treatment rilpivirine resistance-associated mutations, K101E + M230L and the other retained the G190Q + V189I NNRTI substitutions with the addition of V179V/I. Both subjects showed reduced phenotypic susceptibility to RPV. Both subjects also had INSTI resistance-associated mutations, either Q148R + E138E/K or N155N/H at SVF and 1 subject had reduced susceptibility to CAB. Neither subject had the INSTI substitution, L74I. Fold-changes for the Q4W subjects were 1.8 and 4.6 for cabotegravir, 1.0 and 1.4 for dolutegravir and 1.1 and 1.5 for bictegravir.
Effects on electrocardiogram. In a randomised, placebo-controlled, three-period cross-over trial, 42 healthy subjects were randomised into 6 random sequences and received three doses of oral administration of placebo, cabotegravir 150 mg every 12 hours (mean steady-state Cmax was approximately 2.8-fold, 5.4-fold and 5.6-fold above the 30 mg oral once-daily dose, the 400 mg cabotegravir injection monthly dose and the 600 mg cabotegravir injection every 2 month dose, respectively), and single dose of moxifloxacin 400 mg (active control). After baseline and placebo adjustment, the maximum time-matched mean QTc change based on Fridericia's correction method (QTcF) for cabotegravir was 2.62 msec (1-side 90% upper CI:5.26 msec). Cabotegravir did not prolong the QTc interval over 24 hours post-dose.

Clinical trials.

Monthly dosing.

The efficacy of Cabenuva has been evaluated in two Phase III randomised, multicentre, active-controlled, parallel-arm, open-label, non-inferiority studies, FLAIR (201584) and ATLAS (201585). The primary analysis was conducted after all subjects completed their Week 48 visit or discontinued the study prematurely.
In FLAIR, 629 HIV-1-infected, antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve subjects received a dolutegravir integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) containing regimen for 20 weeks (either dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine or dolutegravir plus 2 other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors if subjects were HLA-B*5701 positive). Subjects who were virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies per mL, n=566) were then randomised (1:1) to receive either the Cabenuva regimen or remain on the current antiretroviral (CAR) regimen. Subjects randomised to receive the Cabenuva regimen, initiated treatment with oral lead-in dosing with a cabotegravir 30 mg (Vocabria) tablet plus a rilpivirine 25 mg (Edurant) tablet, daily, for at least 4 weeks, followed by treatment with cabotegravir injection (month 1: 600 mg injection, month 2 onwards: 400 mg injection) plus rilpivirine injection (month 1: 900 mg injection, month 2 onwards: 600 mg injection), every month, for an additional 44 weeks.
In ATLAS, 616 HIV-1-infected, ART-experienced, virologically-suppressed (for at least 6 months) subjects (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies per mL) were randomised (1:1) and received either the Cabenuva regimen or remained on the CAR regimen. Subjects randomised to receive the Cabenuva regimen, initiated treatment with oral lead-in dosing with a cabotegravir 30 mg (Vocabria) tablet plus a rilpivirine 25 mg (Edurant) tablet, daily, for at least 4 weeks, followed by treatment with cabotegravir injection (month 1: 600 mg, month 2 onwards: 400 mg injection) plus rilpivirine injection (month 1: 900 mg injection, month 2 onwards: 600 mg injection), every month, for an additional 44 weeks. In ATLAS, 50%, 17%, and 33% of subjects received an NNRTI, PI, or INI (respectively) as their baseline third treatment medicine class prior to randomisation and this was similar between treatment arms.
At baseline, in the pooled analysis, for the Cabenuva arm, the median age of subjects was 38 years, 27% were female, 27% were non-white, and 7% had CD4+ cell count less than 350 cells per mm3; these characteristics were similar between treatment arms.
The primary endpoint of both studies was the proportion of subjects with plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 copies per mL at week 48 (snapshot algorithm for the ITT-E population).
In a pooled analysis of the two pivotal studies, Cabenuva was non-inferior to CAR on the proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL (1.9% and 1.7% respectively) at Week 48. The adjusted treatment difference between Cabenuva plus rilpivirine and CAR (0.2; 95% CI: -1.4, 1.7) for the pooled analysis met the non-inferiority criterion (upper bound of the 95% CI below 4%). Furthermore, in the pooled analysis, Cabenuva was non-inferior to CAR on the proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies per mL (93.1% and 94.4%, respectively) at Week 48. The adjusted treatment difference between Cabenuva and CAR (-1.4; 95% CI: -4.1, 1.4) for the pooled analysis met the non-inferiority criteria (lower bound of the 95% CI greater than -10%. [See Table 11.]).
The non-inferiority result established in FLAIR and ATLAS demonstrated that the length of HIV-1 RNA virologic suppression prior to initiation of Cabenuva (i.e. < 6 months or ≥ 6 months) did not impact overall response rates.
The primary endpoint and other week 48 outcomes, including outcomes by key baseline factors, for FLAIR and ATLAS are shown in Tables 11 and 12.
In both the FLAIR and ATLAS studies, treatment differences across baseline characteristics (CD4+ count, gender, age, race, BMI, baseline third agent treatment class) were comparable.
Subjects in both FLAIR and ATLAS were virologically suppressed prior to Day 1 or study entry, respectively, and a clinically relevant change from baseline in CD4+ cell counts was not observed.

Week 96 FLAIR.

In the FLAIR study at 96 Weeks, the results remained consistent with the results at 48 Weeks. The proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (n=283) and CAR (n=283) was 3.2% and 3.2% respectively (adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir plus rilpivirine and CAR [0.0; 95% CI: -2.9, 2.9]). The proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 c/mL in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine and CAR was 87% and 89%, respectively (adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir plus rilpivirine and CAR [-2.8; 95% CI: -8.2, 2.5]).

Week 124 FLAIR direct to injection.

In the FLAIR study, an evaluation of safety and efficacy was performed at Week 124 for patients electing to switch (at Week 100) from ABC/DTG/3TC to CAB + RPV in the Extension Phase, with and without an oral lead-in phase, creating an oral lead-in (OLI) group and a direct to injection (DTI) group.
At Week 124, rates of virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA < 50 c/mL) were similar in both DTI (110/111 [99.1%]) and OLI groups (113/121 [93.4%]). Initiating the CAB LA + RPV LA regimen with DTI did not identify any new safety concerns related to omitting the OLI phase.

Every 2 month dosing.

The efficacy and safety of cabotegravir injection given every 2 months, has been evaluated in one Phase IIIb randomised, multicentre, parallel-arm, open-label, non-inferiority study, ATLAS-2M (207966). The primary analysis was conducted after all subjects completed their Week 48 visit or discontinued the study prematurely.
In ATLAS-2M, 1045 HIV-1 infected, ART experienced, virologically suppressed subjects were randomised (1:1) and received a cabotegravir plus rilpivirine injection regimen administered either every 2 months or monthly. Subjects initially on non-cabotegravir plus rilpivirine treatment received oral lead-in treatment comprising one cabotegravir 30 mg tablet plus one rilpivirine 25 mg tablet, daily, for at least 4 weeks. Subjects randomised to monthly cabotegravir injections (month 1: 600 mg injection, month 2 onwards: 400 mg injection) and rilpivirine injections (month 1: 900 mg injection, month 2 onwards: 600 mg injection administered) received treatment for an additional 44 weeks. Subjects randomised to every 2 month cabotegravir injections (600 mg injection at months 1, 2, 4 and every 2 months thereafter) and rilpivirine injections (900 mg injection at months 1, 2, 4 and every 2 months thereafter) for an additional 44 weeks. Prior to randomisation, 63%, 13% and 24% of subjects received cabotegravir plus rilpivirine for 0 weeks, 1 to 24 weeks and > 24 weeks, respectively.
At baseline, the median age of subjects was 42 years, 27% were female, 27% were non-white and 6% had a CD4+ cell count less than 350 cells per mm3; these characteristics were similar between the treatment arms.
The primary endpoint in ATLAS-2M was the proportion of subjects with a plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL at Week 48 (snapshot algorithm for the ITT-E population).
In ATLAS-2M, cabotegravir and rilpivirine administered every 2 months was non-inferior to cabotegravir and rilpivirine administered every month on the proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL (1.7% and 1.0% respectively) at Week 48. The adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir and rilpivirine administered every 2 months and every month (0.8; 95% CI: -0.6, 2.2) met the non-inferiority criterion (upper bound of the 95% CI below 4%). Furthermore, cabotegravir and rilpivirine dosed every 2 months was non-inferior to cabotegravir plus rilpivirine dosed every month on the proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 c/mL (94% and 93%, respectively) at Week 48. The adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir and rilpivirine dosed every 2 months and monthly (0.8; 95% CI: -2.1, 3.7) met the non-inferiority criteria (lower bound of the 95% CI greater than -10%. [See Table 13.]).
In the ATLAS-2M study, treatment differences on the primary endpoint across baseline characteristics (CD4+ lymphocyte count, gender, race, BMI, age and prior exposure to cabotegravir/rilpivirine) were not clinically meaningful [see Table 14].

Week 96 ATLAS-2M.

The efficacy results at Week 96 are consistent with the results of the primary endpoint at Week 48. Cabotegravir plus rilpivirine injections administered every 2 months is non-inferior to cabotegravir and rilpivirine administered every month. The proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL at Week 96 in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing (n=522) and cabotegravir plus rilpivirine monthly dosing (n=523) was 2.1% and 1.1% respectively (adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing and monthly dosing [1.0; 95% CI: -0.6, 2.5]). The proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 c/mL at Week 96 in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing and cabotegravir plus rilpivirine monthly dosing was 91% and 90.2% respectively (adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing and monthly dosing [0.8; 95% CI: -2.8, 4.3]).

Week 152 ATLAS-2M.

The efficacy results at Week 152 are consistent with the results of the primary endpoint at Week 48 and at Week 96. Cabotegravir plus rilpivirine injections administered every 2 months is non-inferior to cabotegravir and rilpivirine administered every month. In an ITT analysis, the proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL at Week 152 in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing (n=522) and cabotegravir plus rilpivirine monthly dosing (n=523) was 2.7% and 1.0% respectively (adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing and monthly dosing [1.7; 95% CI: 0.1, 3.3]). In an ITT analysis, the proportion of subjects having plasma HIV-1 RNA < 50 c/mL at Week 152 in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing and cabotegravir plus rilpivirine monthly dosing was 87% and 86% respectively (adjusted treatment difference between cabotegravir plus rilpivirine every 2 months dosing and monthly dosing [1.5; 95% CI: -2.6, 5.6]).

Post hoc analyses.

Multivariable analyses of pooled phase 3 studies (ATLAS through 96 weeks, FLAIR through 124 weeks and ATLAS-2M through 152 weeks), examined the influence of various factors on the risk of CVF. The baseline factors analysis (BFA) examined baseline viral and participant characteristics and dosing regimen and the multivariable analysis (MVA) included the baseline factors and incorporated post-baseline predicted plasma drug concentrations on confirmed virologic failure (CVF) using regression modelling with a variable selection procedure. Following a total of 4291 person-years, the unadjusted CVF incidence rate was 0.54 per 100 person-years; 23 CVFs were reported (1.4% of 1651 individuals in these studies).
The BFA demonstrated rilpivirine resistance mutations at baseline identified by proviral DNA genotypic assay (incidence rate ratio IRR=21.65, p < 0.0001), HIV-1 subtype A6/A1 (IRR=12.87, p < 0.0001), and body mass index (IRR=1.09 per 1 unit increase, p=0.04; IRR=3.97 of ≥ 30 kg/m2, p=0.014) was associated with CVF. Other variables including Q4W or Q8W dosing, female gender, or CAB/INSTI resistance mutations had no significant association with CVF. A combination of at least 2 of the following key baseline factors was associated with an increased risk of CVF: rilpivirine resistance mutations, HIV-1 subtype A6/A1, or BMI ≥ 30 mg/m2 (see Table 15).
In the MVA five covariates were significantly associated (P < 0.05 for each adjusted incidence rate ratio) with increased risk of CVF: rilpivirine resistance mutations at baseline identified by proviral DNA genotypic assay, HIV-1 subtype A6/A1, predicted cabotegravir trough concentration 4 weeks following initial injection dose, and predicted cabotegravir/rilpivirine trough concentrations at injection week 44. Similar to the BFA results, a combination of these factors was associated with an increased risk of CVF.

Patient reported outcomes.

Patient reported outcomes were assessed by several distinct measures.
Treatment satisfaction significantly improved in the Cabenuva group compared with daily oral antiretroviral therapy (CART) group (mean difference [95% CI] in HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (HIVTSQs) at weeks 24 and 44 was 3.9 [3.0, 4.7] (p < 0.001) and 3.3 [2.5, 4.2] (p < 0.001) respectively, in the pooled ATLAS and FLAIR analysis). Key items driving this difference were "satisfaction to continue with treatment" as well as "flexibility" and "convenience".
Treatment acceptance also significantly improved in the Cabenuva group compared with CART group (mean difference [95% CI] in ACCEPT General Dimension at weeks 24 and 44 was 4.9 [2.4, 7.5] (p < 0.01) and 6.8 [4.3, 9.4] (p < 0.001) respectively, in the pooled ATLAS and FLAIR analysis). Items were assessing acceptability based on advantages and disadvantages of treatment option.
Acceptability of injection site reactions (including pain) significantly improved from Week 5 (2.09 points) to weeks 24 (1.66 points; p < 0.001) and 48 (1.61 points; p < 0.001) in a pooled ATLAS and FLAIR analysis for participants in the Cabenuva group according to "Acceptability of ISRs" dimension of Perception of Injection Questionnaire (PIN) (adapted from the Vaccinees' Perception of Injection (VAPI) Questionnaire) with 86% and 84% of participants in ATLAS and FLAIR finding pain following injections as "totally" or "very acceptable" at week 48.
According to the three dimensions of the HIV/AIDS Targeted Quality of Life (HAT-QoL) included in the study, "medication concerns" significantly improved in the Cabenuva group compared with CART (mean difference [95% CI] at weeks 24 and 48 was 3.4 [1.9, 4.9] (p < 0.001) and 3.5 [1.8, 5.2] (p < 0.001) respectively, in the pooled ATLAS and FLAIR analysis) mostly driven by the improvement in "treatment burden" scores. "Life satisfaction" and HIV "disclosure worries" showed no significant difference between treatment groups, indicating no impact of either treatment options on those concepts.
SF-12 mental and physical component scores showed no significant difference in change from baseline between treatment groups at weeks 24 and 48, which indicates no improvement or worsening in mental or physical health status of participants in both groups.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Cabotegravir pharmacokinetics is similar between healthy and HIV-infected subjects. The PK variability of cabotegravir is moderate to high. In HIV-infected subjects participating in Phase III studies, between-subject CVb% for Ctau ranged from 39 to 48%. Higher between-subject variability ranging from 41% to 89% was observed with single dose administration of prolonged-release cabotegravir injection. See Table 16.

Absorption.

Cabotegravir.

Cabotegravir injection exhibits absorption-limited pharmacokinetics because cabotegravir is slowly absorbed into the systemic circulation from the gluteal muscle resulting in sustained plasma concentrations. Following a single intramuscular (IM) dose, plasma cabotegravir concentrations are detectable on the first day and gradually rise to reach maximum plasma concentration with a median Tmax of 7 days. Cabotegravir has been detected in plasma up to 52 weeks or longer after administration of a single injection. Pharmacokinetic steady-state is achieved by 44 weeks.
Plasma cabotegravir exposure increases in proportion or slightly less than in proportion to dose following single and repeat IM injection of doses ranging from 100 to 800 mg.

Rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine injection exhibits absorption-limited (flip-flop) kinetics resulting from slow absorption from the gluteal muscle into the systemic circulation resulting in sustained plasma concentrations. Following a single intramuscular (IM) dose, plasma rilpivirine concentrations are detectable on the first day and gradually rise to reach maximum plasma concentration with a median Tmax of 3-4 days. Rilpivirine has been detected in plasma for longer than 52 weeks after administration of a single injection. About 80% of the rilpivirine steady-state exposure is reached by 48 weeks. After that, there is limited accumulation, with pharmacokinetic steady-state reached after approximately 2 years.
Plasma rilpivirine exposure increases in proportion or slightly less than in proportion to dose following single and repeat IM injection of doses ranging from 300 to 1200 mg.

Distribution.

Cabotegravir.

Cabotegravir is highly bound (> 99%) to human plasma proteins, based on in vitro data. Following administration of oral tablets, the mean apparent oral volume of distribution (Vz/F) in plasma was 12.3 L. In humans, the estimate of plasma cabotegravir Vc/F was 5.27 L and Vp/F was 2.43 L. These volume estimates, along with the assumption of high bioavailability, suggest some distribution of cabotegravir to the extracellular space.
Cabotegravir is present in the female and male genital tract. Median cervical and vaginal tissue:plasma ratios ranged from 0.16 to 0.28 and median rectal tissue:plasma ratios were ≤ 0.08 following a single 400 mg intramuscular injection (IM) at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after dosing.
Cabotegravir is present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In HIV-infected subjects receiving a regimen of cabotegravir injection plus rilpivirine injection, the cabotegravir CSF to plasma concentration ratio [median (range)] (n=16) was 0.003 (0.002 to 0.004) one week following a steady-state prolonged-release cabotegravir (monthly doses or every 2 month dose) injection. Consistent with therapeutic cabotegravir concentrations in the CSF, CSF HIV-1 RNA (n=16) was < 50 c/mL in 100% and < 2 c/mL in 15/16 (94%) of subjects. At the same time point, plasma HIV-1 RNA (n =18) was < 50 c/mL in 100% and < 2 c/mL in 12/18 (66.7%) of subjects.

Rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine is approximately 99.7% bound to plasma proteins in vitro, primarily to albumin. Based on population pharmacokinetics analysis, the typical apparent volume of the central compartment (Vc/F) for rilpivirine after IM administration was estimated to be 132 L, reflecting a moderate distribution to peripheral tissues.
Rilpivirine is present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In HIV-1-infected patients receiving a regimen of rilpivirine injection plus cabotegravir injection, the median rilpivirine CSF to plasma concentration ratio (n=16) was 1.07 to 1.32% (range: not quantifiable to 1.69%). Consistent with therapeutic antiretroviral concentrations in the CSF, CSF HIV-1 RNA (n=16) was < 50 c/mL in 100% and < 2 c/mL in 15/16 (94%) patients. At the same time point, plasma HIV-1 RNA (n=18) was < 50 c/mL in 100% of patients and < 2 c/mL in 12/18 (66.7%) patients.

Metabolism.

Cabotegravir.

Cabotegravir is primarily metabolised by UGT1A1 with a minor UGT1A9 component. Cabotegravir is the predominant circulating compound in plasma, representing > 90% of plasma total radiocarbon. Following oral administration in humans, cabotegravir is primarily eliminated through metabolism; renal elimination of unchanged cabotegravir is low (< 1% of the dose). Forty-seven percent of the total oral dose is excreted as unchanged cabotegravir in the faeces. It is unknown if all or part of this is due to unabsorbed drug or biliary excretion of the glucuronide conjugate, which can be further degraded to form the parent compound in the gut lumen. Cabotegravir was observed to be present in duodenal bile samples. The glucuronide metabolite was also present in some but not all of the duodenal bile samples. Twenty-seven percent of the total oral dose is excreted in the urine, primarily as a glucuronide metabolite (75% of urine radioactivity, 20% of total dose).

Rilpivirine.

In vitro experiments indicate that rilpivirine primarily undergoes oxidative metabolism mediated by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A system.

Excretion.

Cabotegravir.

Cabotegravir mean apparent terminal phase half-life is absorption-rate limited and is estimated to be 5.6 to 11.5 weeks after a single dose IM injection. The significantly longer apparent half-life compared to oral administration reflects absorption from the injection site into the systemic circulation. The apparent CL/F was 0.151 L/h based on population pharmacokinetic analysis.

Rilpivirine.

The rilpivirine apparent terminal elimination half-life after IM injection is absorption-rate limited and estimated to be 13 to 28 weeks. The apparent plasma clearance (CL/F) of rilpivirine after IM administration was 5.08 L/h. After single-dose oral administration of 14C-rilpivirine, on average 85% and 6.1% of the radioactivity could be retrieved in faeces and urine, respectively. In faeces, unchanged rilpivirine accounted for on average 25% of the administered dose. Only trace amounts of unchanged rilpivirine (< 1% of dose) were detected in urine.

Polymorphisms.

In a meta-analysis of healthy and HIV-infected subject trials, HIV-infected subjects with UGT1A1 genotypes conferring poor cabotegravir metabolism had a 1.2-fold mean increase in steady-state cabotegravir AUC, Cmax, and Ctau following prolonged-release injection administration compared with subjects with genotypes associated with normal metabolism via UGT1A1. No dose adjustment is required in subjects with UGT1A1 polymorphisms.

Special patient populations.

Gender. Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant effect of gender on the exposure of cabotegravir or rilpivirine, therefore no dose adjustment is required on the basis of gender.
Race. Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant effect of race on the exposure of cabotegravir or rilpivirine, therefore no dosage adjustment is required on the basis of race.
Body mass index (BMI). Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant effect of BMI on the exposure of cabotegravir or rilpivirine, therefore no dose adjustment is required on the basis of BMI.
Elderly. Population pharmacokinetic analysis of cabotegravir revealed no clinically relevant effect of age on cabotegravir or rilpivirine exposure. Pharmacokinetic data for cabotegravir and rilpivirine in subjects of > 65 years old are limited.
Renal impairment.

Cabotegravir.

No clinically important pharmacokinetic differences between subjects with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≥ 15 to < 30 mL/min and not on dialysis) and matching healthy subjects were observed. No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with mild, moderate or severe renal impairment (not on dialysis). Cabotegravir has not been studied in patients on dialysis.

Rilpivirine.

The pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine have not been studied in patients with renal insufficiency. Renal elimination of rilpivirine is negligible. Therefore, the impact of renal impairment on rilpivirine elimination is expected to be minimal. As rilpivirine is highly bound to plasma proteins, it is unlikely that it will be significantly removed by haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
Hepatic impairment.

Cabotegravir.

No clinically important pharmacokinetic differences between subjects with moderate hepatic impairment and matching healthy subjects were observed. No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Score A or B). The effect of severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Score C) on the pharmacokinetics of cabotegravir has not been studied.

Rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine is primarily metabolised and eliminated by the liver. In a study comparing 8 patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score A) to 8 matched controls, and 8 patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score B) to 8 matched controls, the multiple dose exposure of rilpivirine was 47% higher in patients with mild hepatic impairment and 5% higher in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. The effect of severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Score C) on the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine has not been studied.
HBV/HCV co-infected patients. Cabotegravir plus rilpivirine has not been studied in patients with hepatitis B co-infection. There is limited experience in patients with hepatitis C coinfection without evidence of advanced liver disease receiving cabotegravir and rilpivirine.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

Cabotegravir was not mutagenic or clastogenic using in vitro tests in bacteria and cultured mammalian cells, and an in vivo rodent micronucleus assay.
Rilpivirine has tested negative in the in vitro Ames reverse mutation assay, and in vitro clastogenicity mouse lymphoma assay, tested in the absence and presence of a metabolic activation system. Rilpivirine did not induce chromosomal damage in the in vivo micronucleus test in mice.

Carcinogenicity.

Cabotegravir was not carcinogenic in long term oral studies in the mouse and rat at doses resulting in up to 7-8 and 26 times, respectively (75 mg/kg/day in male mice and rats and 35 mg/kg/day in female mice), the maximum AUC in patients.
Rilpivirine was evaluated for carcinogenic potential by oral gavage administration to mice and rats up to 104 weeks. Daily doses of 20, 60 and 160 mg/kg/day were administered to mice and doses of 40, 200, 500 and 1500 mg/kg/day were administered to rats. An increase in the incidences of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas was observed in mice and rats. An increase in the incidences of follicular cell adenomas and/or carcinomas in the thyroid gland was observed in rats. Administration of rilpivirine did not cause a statistically significant increase in the incidence of any other benign or malignant neoplasm in mice or rats. The observed hepatocellular findings in mice and rats are considered to be rodent specific, associated with liver enzyme induction. A similar mechanism does not exist in humans; hence, these tumors are not relevant for humans. The follicular cell findings are considered to be rat specific, associated with increased clearance of thyroxine and are not considered to be relevant for humans. At the lowest tested doses in carcinogenicity studies, the systemic exposures (based on AUC) to rilpivirine were > 17 times relative to those observed in humans at the recommended doses (25 mg once daily orally or 600 mg IM injection monthly).

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection.

Mannitol, polysorbate 20, macrogol 3350, water for injections.

Rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection.

Citric acid monohydrate, glucose monohydrate, poloxamer, monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate, sodium hydroxide, water for injections.

6.2 Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies cabotegravir and rilpivirine injections must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store at 2°C to 8°C.
Do not freeze.
Prior to administration, the vials should be brought to room temperature (not to exceed 25°C). The vials may remain at room temperature for up to 6 hours; do not put the rilpivirine vial back into the refrigerator. If not used within 6 hours, the vials must be discarded.
Once the suspensions have been drawn into the respective syringes, the injections should be administered as soon as possible, but may remain in the syringes for up to 2 hours. If 2 hours are exceeded, the filled syringes and needles must be discarded.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

2 mL Cabenuva contains.

One 2 mL single-dose vial of cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection containing 400 mg of cabotegravir.
One 2 mL single-dose vial of rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection containing 600 mg of rilpivirine.
2 syringes, 2 vial adaptors, and 2 needles (23-gauge, 1½ inch).

3 mL Cabenuva contains.

One 3 mL single-dose vial of cabotegravir prolonged-release suspension for injection containing 600 mg of cabotegravir.
One 3 mL single-dose vial of rilpivirine prolonged-release suspension for injection containing 900 mg of rilpivirine.
2 syringes, 2 vial adaptors, and 2 needles (23-gauge, 1½ inch).
The vials are type I clear glass vials, sealed with bromobutyl rubber stoppers and an aluminum overseal with a removeable plastic cap.
Not all strengths may be distributed in Australia.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking to your local pharmacy.
Full instructions for use and handling of Cabenuva is provided in the Instructions for Use included as a package insert.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Cabotegravir.

Chemical name: (3S,11aR)-N-[(2,4-Difluorophenyl) methyl]-6-hydroxy-3-methyl-5,7-dioxo-2,3,5,7,11,11a-hexahydro[1,3]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrido[1,2-d]pyrazine-8-carboxamide.
Molecular formula: C19H17F2N3O5.
Molecular weight: 405.35 g/mol.

Chemical structure.


CAS number.

1051375-10-0.
Cabotegravir is a white to almost white solid.

Rilpivirine.

Chemical name: 4-[[4-[[4-[(E)-2-cyanoethenyl]-2,6-dimethylphenyl]amino]-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]benzonitrile.
Molecular formula: C22H18N6.
Molecular weight: 366.42 g/mol.

Chemical structure.


CAS number.

500287-72-9.
Rilpivirine is a white to off white powder.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

Schedule 4 - Prescription Only Medicine.

Summary Table of Changes