Effective October 8, 2021, an extended release injectable suspension of cabotegravir 200 mg/mL and rilpivirine 300 mg/mL (Cabenuva) was added to the ADAP formulary. Cabenuva is a first-in-class long-acting injectable antiretroviral (ARV) combination medication for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), manufactured by ViiV Healthcare. Cabenuva is administered by providers as a once a month injection and is a complete treatment regimen for HIV-infected adults. Cabenuva is an option to replace an oral ARV regimen in people who have successfully achieved viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per milliliter) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine, but who have difficulty taking daily oral medications. Prior to starting long-acting Cabenuva injections, patients should take oral cabotegravir (Vocabria) and oral rilpivirine (Edurant®) for one month to ensure that these medications are tolerable. Oral cabotegravir (Vocabria) is not commercially available but can be obtained from the manufacturer (ViiV: https://www.viivconnect.com/injectable/) through their specialty pharmacy, TheraCom, for free (no cost).  Oral rilpivirine (Edurant®) is already on the ADAP formulary. Cabenuva received United States Food and Drug Administration approval on January 21, 2021.

At this time, ADAP covers the medication cost of Cabenuva but the clinical or procedure costs associated with administering the Cabenuva injection are not covered by ADAP. More information will be forthcoming in a future management memo as ADAP develops additional options to cover the costs of administering Cabenuva injections.

ADAP management requests that you share this information with your clinical leadership team and local prescribers. The ADAP drug formulary has been updated to reflect the addition of Cabenuva and Vocabria, available 

If you have any questions regarding the addition of this medication to the ADAP formulary, please contact James Vo, ADAP Specialist, at (916) 449-5965.

Thank you,