Abstract
Background
Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI-ART) is approved for treatment-naïve or experienced people living with HIV (PLWH) based on trials that only included participants with viral suppression. We performed the first LAI-ART demonstration project to include PLWH unable to achieve or maintain viral suppression due to challenges adhering to oral ART.
Methods
Ward 86 is a large HIV clinic in San Francisco that serves publicly insured or underinsured patients. We started patients on LAI-ART via a structured process of provider referral, multidisciplinary review (MD, RN, pharmacist), and monitoring for on-time injections. Inclusion criteria were willingness to receive monthly injections and a reliable contact method. Descriptive statistics evaluated program outcomes.
Results
Between June 2021-April 2022, 51 patients initiated LAI-ART, with 39 receiving at least two follow-up injections by database closure (median age 46; 90% cisgender men, 61% non-White, 41% marginally housed, 54% currently using stimulants). Of 24 patients initiating injections with viral suppression (median CD4 706), 100% (95% CI 86-100%) maintained viral suppression. Of 15 patients initiating injections with detectable viremia (median CD4 99, mean log10 viral load 4.67 SD 1.16), 12 (80%; 95% CI 55-93%) achieved viral suppression and the other 3 had a 2-log viral load decline by a median of 22 days.
Conclusions
This small demo nstration project of LAI-ART in a diverse group of patients with high levels of substance use and marginal housing demonstrated promising early treatment outcomes, including in those with detectable viremia due to adherence challenges. More data on LAI-ART in hard-to-reach populations are needed.
