ViiV Healthcare’s combination injectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medication was preferred over a daily tablet in treatment-naïve patients in a Phase IIIb trial.
A global specialist in HIV that is majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, ViiV announced data from the Phase IIIb VOLITION study (NCT05917509) at the International AIDS Society (IAS) conference 2025, taking place from 13 to 15 July in Kigali, Rwanda.
In the study, 89% of treatment-naïve HIV patients switched to Cabenuva (a combination treatment of cabotegravir and rilpivirine) following rapid viral suppression with daily Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine). Cabenuva is dosed once every two months by a healthcare professional.
Patients were initially treated with daily Dovato until they achieved viral suppression. At this point, they were offered the opportunity to change to Cabenuva.
The most common reasons cited for choosing Cabenuva were not having to worry about missing a dose each day (80%) and not having to carry medication (68%).
ViiV CMO Jean van Wyk said: “Long-acting injectables provide options that can offer high effectiveness and tolerability, improved adherence, and a preferred dosing schedule compared with daily oral pills. We believe they are a key part of HIV treatment and prevention and will play a critical role in achieving our ambition of ending HIV and AIDS.”
Patients were initially treated with daily Dovato until they achieved viral suppression. At this point, they were offered the opportunity to change to Cabenuva.
Effectiveness was also sustained with Cabenuva in the real world, with data from several observational studies.
In these studies, Cabenuva was shown to address challenges associated with daily oral pills, offering improved treatment satisfaction, high effectiveness and a patient-preferred treatment option that supports long-term virologic control.
GlobalData, the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena, predicts sales of Cabenuva to reach $2.83bn in 2030.
ViiV is also investigating an HIV therapy that can be dosed once every four months. In a Phase IIb trial, the therapy was able to suppress viral load below 50 copies per millimetre in blood.
Long-acting PrEP on IAS agenda
Long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV has been prominent on the agenda at the IAS 2025 meeting. MSD has initiated two Phase III studies of its monthly oral PrEP candidate, and Gilead is set to report more positive data from its two-Phase III studies of twice-yearly Yeztugo (lenacapavir).
On 14 July, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the use of Yeztugo, saying that without a vaccine, it is the “next best thing”.
GlobalData analysts highlighted that the approval of Yeztugo is a “momentous step in improving PrEP options available for people vulnerable to contracting HIV”.
HIV funding cuts at heart of IAS 2025
The main topic of conversation at the IAS 2025 conference, however, is the loss of various funding schemes which helped to provide treatment and research into HIV. Funding cuts by Trump’s administration are already impacting low-income and middle-income countries, with cases of HIV already rising just six months after the reductions were made.
During IAS's opening session, a group of activists took to the stage to vocalise their anger at the loss of funding, as well as some companies removing their diversity policies that recognised patients from LGBTQ+ communities, many of whom are more susceptible to transmitting HIV. The activists chanted “we will not be erased” as they took to the stage, with several members of the group sharing their views and experiences as HIV patients from the LGBTQ+ community.
The conference states it is welcoming of protests and that it “endorses freedom of speech as an essential principle to end the HIV pandemic as a threat to public health”.
