ViiV Healthcare's Cabenuva Proves Superior in Adolescent HIV Treatment — ViiV Healthcare Limited

Event summary

Cabenuva (cabotegravir + rilpivirine) demonstrated superiority over daily oral therapy in adolescents aged 12–19 living with HIV, per LATA trial results presented at AIDS 2026.
Confirmed viral rebound occurred in just 0.9% of adolescents receiving Cabenuva compared to 6.4% on daily oral therapy.
Real-world data from the OPERA cohort showed Cabenuva maintained virologic suppression comparable to daily oral BIC/FTC/TAF in nearly 6,800 adults.
CLARITY study results favored Cabenuva over lenacapavir for injection experience, with fewer and less severe injection site reactions.

The big picture

ViiV Healthcare's data reinforces the growing shift toward long-acting injectables in HIV treatment and prevention. The superiority of Cabenuva in adolescents addresses a critical gap in adherence, while real-world evidence supports its viability as a scalable solution. This positions ViiV to capture market share from daily oral therapies, particularly as global health initiatives prioritize simplified regimens.

What we're watching

Adolescent Adoption: Whether ViiV Healthcare can scale Cabenuva adoption among adolescents, where adherence and retention in care are critical challenges.
Long-Acting Preference: The pace at which long-acting injectables like Cabenuva displace daily oral therapies in both treatment and prevention markets.
Regulatory Approvals: How quickly ViiV Healthcare can secure expanded approvals for Cabenuva, particularly for the adolescent population and potential new formulations.