Higher Acceptability of 1 Injectable in First Head-to-Head Comparison of Long-Acting PrEP

ViiV Healthcare presented data this week showing that 69% of participants rated CAB injections as “totally or very acceptable,” compared with 48% for LEN. Additionally, 90% of participants and 86% of HCPs preferred CAB over LEN after receiving single doses of both injectables.

“Understanding differences in acceptability and tolerability is key when choosing between injectable options. These early findings help empower individuals and providers to make fully informed choices,” ViiV Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Jean van Wyk, MBChB, MFPM, said in a statement.

The results were presented at the ongoing 20th European AIDS Conference (EACS) in Paris, and underscore how injection-site reaction (ISR) experiences can shape preferences for long-acting HIV prevention and treatment options.

In a recent interview with Contagion, van Wyk, MBChB, MFPM, shared some of the company's strategies for its long-acting injectables.

Study Design and Key Findings

In this open-label, crossover study, 63 HIV-negative adults were randomized to receive either CAB LA (a single intramuscular injection) or LEN (2 subcutaneous injections) on Day 1, followed by the alternate treatment on Day 15. The primary endpoint was local reaction acceptability assessed seven days post-injection.

Participant and Provider Preferences

• Participants: 90% (54/60) preferred CAB LA; 10% (6/60) preferred LEN.
• Healthcare Providers: 86% (6/7) preferred CAB LA; 14% (1/7) preferred LEN.

Top reasons for CAB preference included:

• Less pain during injection (74%)
• Less post-injection soreness (61%)
• Shorter duration of injection-site swelling (57%)
• Smaller injection-site nodules (56%)

Participants who preferred LEN cited less soreness after injection and smaller or shorter-lasting swelling.

For HCPs, the most common reasons for preferring CAB LA were fewer and less severe side effects and reduced injection pain. The single provider who preferred LEN cited ease of injection preparation.

“Long-acting innovations will play a critical role in the global effort to end HIV and AIDS,” van Wyk said.

Reference
ViiV Healthcare’s CLARITY study shows long-acting cabotegravir more acceptable than lenacapavir injections after a single dose, with 90% preferring cabotegravir. ViiV press release. October 15, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025.
https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/viiv-healthcare-s-clarity-study-shows-long-acting-cabotegravir-more-acceptable-than-lenacapavir-injections-after-a-single-dose-with-90-preferring-cabotegravir/