Why carry out this study?

Suboptimal adherence due to daily oral pill burden, stigma, and other challenges is still common in people living with HIV and may lead to reduced treatment adherence and effectiveness and increased onward transmission.

Cabotegravir + rilpivirine long-acting, administered every 2 months through an injection by a healthcare professional, is the first long-acting antiretroviral therapy (ART) that may reduce these challenges by omitting daily oral ART intake.

In this study, the cost-effectiveness of injectable long-acting cabotegravir + rilpivirine over commonly used, daily oral, single-tablet ART regimen was evaluated in Spain.

What was learned from this study?

Cabotegravir + rilpivirine long-acting was cost-effective over daily oral single-tablet regimen ART from the Spanish National Healthcare System perspective.

Cabotegravir + rilpivirine long-acting could provide a cost-effective alternative treatment for Spanish people living with HIV, particularly for those experiencing challenges associated with daily oral medication (e.g., adherence, pill burden, or stigma), or even for treatment preferences.