# Cabotegravir plus rilpivirine injections in 108 people with HIV in Japan: 95.8% of visits on schedule

- Published: 2026-11-13 07:34 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: cabotegravir plus rilpivirine, long-acting injectable HIV treatment, HIV in Japan, injection adherence, virological suppression, low-level viremia, CD4/CD8 ratio, serum creatinine and cystatin C, real-world cohort study, antiretroviral therapy
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-499a0d78600d44e3901c0883_cabotegravir_plus_rilpivirine/

**A retrospective cohort at a tertiary HIV center in Japan was followed for a median of 45 months; 97.8% of HIV RNA measurements were below 50 copies/mL.**

![Cabotegravir plus rilpivirine injections in 108 people with HIV in Japan: 95.8% of visits on schedule](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/d4a8862457aace73.jpg)
*Japanexperterna.se from Japan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0*

A retrospective cohort study published in AIDS Research and Therapy evaluated long-acting injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (CAB + RPV) in routine clinical care at a tertiary HIV center in Japan. It included 108 people with HIV who received the regimen between July 2022 and August 2026. Median follow-up was 45 months (IQR, 30–47) [1].

During follow-up, 12 participants (11.1%) discontinued CAB + RPV [1]. The authors focused on injection adherence, transient and low-level viremia, and longitudinal changes in lymphocyte counts and renal biomarkers. Changes over time were assessed with generalized estimating equation (GEE) models and linear mixed-effects models.

## Injection adherence and viral load

Of 2,041 scheduled visits, 95.8% took place within the recommended dosing window, 2.94% were early and 1.22% were late [1]. GEE logistic regression showed no significant association between injection visit number and late administration [1].

Among 2,008 HIV RNA measurements, 97.8% were below 50 copies/mL, including 77.0% in which the target was not detected [1]. Three measurements of 200 copies/mL or higher occurred in one participant, without consecutive elevations or virological failure [1]. GEE analysis showed no significant change over time in HIV RNA of 50 copies/mL or higher [1].

## Lymphocyte counts and renal biomarkers

Linear mixed-effects model analysis showed stable CD4 counts, decreased CD8 counts and an increased CD4/CD8 ratio [1]. Serum creatinine decreased initially after the switch to CAB + RPV, as reflected in the Month 5 comparison, while cystatin C remained unchanged [1].

The authors report that in this real-world cohort CAB + RPV use was characterized by high injection adherence and sustained virological control. They found no adverse longitudinal changes in the measured immunological and renal biomarkers over up to four years [1].

## Sources

1. [AIDS Research and Therapy](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-026-00984-0)
2. [bioengineer.org](https://bioengineer.org/injectable-cabotegravir-and-rilpivirine-maintained-high-adherence-and-viral-suppression-in-japan)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-499a0d78600d44e3901c0883_cabotegravir_plus_rilpivirine/