Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – July 29, 2026 – In a significant advancement for HIV management in adolescents, ViiV Healthcare’s innovative two-monthly injectable treatment, Cabenuva (cabotegravir and rilpivirine), has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to a standard daily oral triple therapy in a pivotal Phase III trial conducted across four African nations. The LATA study, presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026), offers compelling evidence that long-acting injectable regimens can significantly reduce viral rebound rates in a vulnerable adolescent population where adherence and retention in care can be particularly challenging.
The findings from the LATA study are poised to reshape treatment paradigms for young people living with HIV in Africa, a continent that bears the heaviest global burden of the epidemic. With the World Health Organization (WHO) striving to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, the introduction and wider accessibility of effective, patient-friendly treatment options are paramount.
LATA Study: A Head-to-Head Comparison for Adolescent HIV Treatment
The LATA study (NCT05154747) was meticulously designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cabenuva, administered via intramuscular injection every two months, against a widely used daily oral regimen of dolutegravir/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine. The trial enrolled 476 virologically suppressed adolescents, aged between 12 and 19 years, living with HIV. Participants were recruited from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe – countries that represent a significant portion of the global HIV burden.
The primary objective of the study was to assess the proportion of participants who experienced confirmed viral rebound after 96 weeks of treatment. Viral rebound, defined as a viral load of 200 copies/mL or higher, signifies a potential loss of virologic suppression and an increased risk of disease progression and onward transmission.
Superior Efficacy: A Dramatic Reduction in Viral Rebound
The results of the LATA study were striking. In the arm of the study where participants received Cabenuva every two months, only 0.9% experienced confirmed viral rebound. This stands in stark contrast to the 6.4% of participants in the daily oral therapy arm who experienced viral rebound over the same 96-week period. This more than seven-fold reduction in viral rebound underscores the superior effectiveness of the long-acting injectable regimen in maintaining viral suppression among adolescents.
Furthermore, the study also captured valuable patient-reported outcomes. Of the 228 participants who received Cabenuva, an overwhelming 94% reported that the long-acting injections were "much easier to take" than their previous daily oral therapy. This finding highlights the significant potential of Cabenuva to improve treatment experience and reduce the daily burden associated with HIV medication for young individuals.
Building on a Foundation of Evidence: OPERA Study Insights
The LATA study’s findings are not in isolation but build upon a robust body of evidence supporting the efficacy and tolerability of Cabenuva in diverse populations. The study complements data from the OPERA study (EUPAS1000000165), an observational, real-world study that evaluated Cabenuva in nearly 6,800 virologically suppressed adults living with HIV.
In the OPERA trial, participants receiving Cabenuva demonstrated maintained virologic suppression comparable to those on Gilead’s daily oral Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide). Specifically, at a median follow-up time of 15 months, 89% of patients on Cabenuva had a viral load below 50 copies/mL, compared to 83% in the Biktarvy group at a median follow-up of 22 months. The risk of confirmed virologic failure was also low and comparable between the two groups, with 1% of Cabenuva recipients and 2% of Biktarvy recipients experiencing this outcome.
These real-world data from OPERA provide crucial insights into how Cabenuva performs outside the controlled environment of clinical trials, demonstrating its sustained effectiveness in routine clinical care and supporting individuals over extended periods.
Official Responses and the Path Forward
The presentation of these pivotal LATA study results at AIDS 2026 has been met with enthusiasm from ViiV Healthcare and the broader HIV research community. Dr. Jean van Wyk, Chief Medical Officer at ViiV Healthcare, emphasized the significance of the data.
"The data presented at AIDS 2026 underscore the depth and breadth of evidence ViiV Healthcare has generated for long-acting injectables across HIV treatment and prevention," stated Dr. van Wyk. "With OPERA, real-world evidence from nearly 6,800 adults in routine care shows Cabenuva maintained high and comparable virologic suppression to daily oral therapy, helping us better understand how it performs outside clinical trials and supports people over time. Together with clinical and patient-reported data, this evidence provides a trusted foundation for the next generation of innovation, shaped by people affected by HIV and designed to deliver impact at scale."
The LATA study marks the second significant presentation for ViiV Healthcare at AIDS 2026. Earlier in the week, the company also shared positive data for its two-drug regimen, Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine), which demonstrated non-inferior efficacy to the three-drug regimen Biktarvy in treatment-naïve adults living with HIV, including those with high viral loads or low CD4+ cell counts. This dual success highlights ViiV Healthcare’s commitment to developing a diverse portfolio of innovative HIV therapies.
Implications for the Global HIV Response
The implications of the LATA study’s findings are far-reaching, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for over two-thirds of the global population living with HIV. The challenges of maintaining adherence to daily oral medications can be exacerbated by various factors, including stigma, pill fatigue, complex dosing schedules, and access to healthcare. Long-acting injectable therapies like Cabenuva offer a compelling solution by simplifying treatment regimens and reducing the daily reminder of living with HIV.
While Cabenuva has demonstrated safety and efficacy in African populations, its widespread commercial accessibility through public health sectors in these countries is still a developing area. The robust data generated by studies like LATA and OPERA are crucial for advocating for broader integration and reimbursement of these innovative therapies within national HIV programs.
The WHO’s ambitious goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 necessitates the rapid adoption of evidence-based, patient-centered interventions. The superior efficacy and improved patient experience demonstrated by Cabenuva in the LATA study position it as a critical tool in achieving this goal, especially for adolescents who are transitioning into adulthood and require sustained, effective management of their HIV.
Future of HIV Treatment: A Market Driven by Innovation
The global HIV market is undergoing a significant transformation, with a projected growth from $26.5 billion in 2023 to $32.1 billion by 2033, according to GlobalData analysis. This growth is expected to be largely driven by the increased uptake of long-acting injectable therapies and the introduction of novel single-tablet regimens (STRs).
The success of Cabenuva in the LATA study aligns with this market trend. The development of biannual injectables, such as Gilead’s Yeztugo (lenacapavir) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing new HIV infections in the PURPOSE1 Phase III trial, further illustrates the growing importance of long-acting modalities in HIV prevention and treatment.
ViiV Healthcare, a global specialist HIV company majority-owned by GSK with Shionogi as a shareholder, is at the forefront of this innovation. The company’s commitment to generating comprehensive evidence, from rigorous clinical trials to real-world observational studies, provides a solid foundation for the next generation of HIV therapeutics. By prioritizing innovations that are shaped by the lived experiences of people affected by HIV and designed for scalable impact, ViiV Healthcare is actively contributing to a future where living with HIV is more manageable and less burdensome.
The LATA study’s success is a testament to the power of scientific inquiry and the unwavering dedication to improving the lives of individuals living with HIV. As ViiV Healthcare continues to advance its pipeline and advocate for the accessibility of its long-acting therapies, the prospect of a world free from the public health threat of HIV moves closer to reality, particularly for the young people who represent the future of global health.
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