15/10/2026
Could long-acting HIV treatment help people who struggle with daily tablets?
Growing evidence suggests that long-acting injectable HIV treatment may be an option for some people who have not been able to achieve or maintain viral suppression with daily oral treatment.
Recent studies of injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine have found very high rates of viral suppression among people who started treatment with a detectable viral load, including people facing challenges such as unstable housing, mental health issues, substance use or difficulty taking medication every day. In one large 2026 study, 96% of participants who started with detectable HIV ultimately achieved viral suppression.
That’s important because HIV treatment isn’t only about having effective medication. It also needs to fit people’s lives.
Long-acting treatment isn’t suitable for everyone and requires careful clinical assessment, resistance testing, regular injections and follow-up. But for some people, it could offer another pathway to achieving an undetectable viral load and the health benefits of effective HIV treatment.
Read more from POZ:
In a Phase III study, Cabenuva suppressed HIV in people who still had detectable viral load despite daily oral treatment.
