National Medical Products Administration has approved for Vocabria (cabotegravir) in combination with Rekambys (rilpivirine), the first and only complete long-acting HIV-1 injectable treatment – Viiv HealthCare

GSK plc has announced that ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders announced that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China has approved ViiV Healthcare’s Vocabria (cabotegravir injection) used in combination with the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson’s Rekambys (rilpivirine long-acting injection) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Prior to the recent marketing authorisation for rilpivirine long-acting injection, cabotegravir injection and tablets were approved in China in July 2023.

Cabotegravir injection is indicated in combination with rilpivirine long-acting injection for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults who are virologically suppressed, on a stable antiretroviral (ARV) regimen without present or past evidence of viral resistance to, and no prior virological failure with, agents of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and integrase inhibitor (INI) classes. Vocabria (cabotegravir) tablets are approved for use in combination with rilpivirine tablets (trade name Edurant) as an optional oral lead-in before initiating injections or as oral therapy for those who will miss planned injection doses.

By the end of October 2020, there were an estimated 1.045 million people living with HIV in China. Advancements in treatment mean many people living with HIV can now live long and healthy lives, however, some may still struggle with daily oral HIV medication. It may act as a constant reminder of HIV, be a cause of fear that their HIV status will be accidently disclosed or create challenges with adherence.