Daily Medication Pearl: Cabotegravir (Apretude) for HIV

Medication Pearl of the Day: Cabotegravir (Apretude)

Indication: Cabotegravir (Apretude) is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor indicated in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg for pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection.

Insight:

• Recommended dosing schedule: Initiate cabotegravir with a single 600 mg (3 mL) injection given 1 month apart for 2 consecutive months on the last day of an oral lead-in if used or within 3 days and continue with the injections every 2 months thereafter.
• Dosage forms: Single-dose vial of 600 mg/3 mL (200 mg/mL) of cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension.
• Adverse events: The most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in at least 1% of subjects receiving cabotegravir were injection site reactions, diarrhea, headache, pyrexia, fatigue, sleep disorders, nausea, dizziness, and flatulence.
• Mechanism of action: Cabotegravir inhibits HIV integrase by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral DNA integration that is essential for the HIV replication cycle.
• Manufacturer: ViiV

Sources:

• APRETUDE (cabotegravir) Label (fda.gov)
• apretude image - Google Search