Apretude is indicated in combination with safer sex practices for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in high-risk adults and adolescents, weighing at least 35 kg (see sections 4.2, 4.4 and 5.1).

Apretude should be prescribed by a healthcare professional experienced in the management of HIV PrEP.

Each injection should be administered by a healthcare professional.

Individuals must be tested for HIV-1 prior to initiating cabotegravir and at each subsequent injection of cabotegravir (see section 4.3). A combined antigen/antibody test as well as an HIV-RNA-based test should both be negative. Prescribers are advised to perform both tests, even if the result of the HIV-RNA-based test will become available after cabotegravir injection. If a combined testing strategy including both tests is not available, testing should follow local guidelines.

Prior to starting Apretude, individuals should be carefully selected to agree to the required dosing schedule and counselled about the importance of adherence to scheduled dosing visits to help reduce the risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection.

The healthcare provider and individual may decide to use cabotegravir tablets as an oral lead-in prior to the initiation of Apretude injection to assess tolerability or may proceed directly to Apretude injections (see Table 1 and Table 2 for dosing recommendations).

Posology

Oral lead-in

Refer to the oral Apretude tablet SmPC for oral lead-in information.

Injection

Initiation injections

The recommended initial dose is a single 600 mg intramuscular injection. If oral lead-in has been used, the first injection should be planned for the last day of oral lead-in or within 3 days thereafter.

One month later, a second 600 mg intramuscular injection should be administered. Individuals may be given the second 600 mg initiation injection up to 7 days before or after the scheduled dosing date.

Continuation injections – 2 months apart

After the second initiation injection, the recommended continuation injection dose in adults is a single 600 mg intramuscular injection administered every 2 months. Individuals may be given injections up to 7 days before or after the date of the scheduled injection date.

Table 1 Recommended intramuscular dosing schedule

Missed doses

Individuals who miss a scheduled injection visit should be reassessed to ensure resumption of PrEP remains appropriate.

If a delay of more than 7 days from a scheduled injection date cannot be avoided it will be a missed dose, therefore, cabotegravir 30 mg tablets may be used once daily, for a duration of up to two months, to replace one scheduled injection visit. The first dose of oral therapy should be taken approximately two months (+/- 7 days) after the last injection of cabotegravir. For oral PrEP durations greater than two months, an alternative PrEP regimen is recommended.

Injection dosing should be resumed on the day oral dosing completes or within 3 days, thereafter, as recommended in Table 2.

Table 2 Injection dosing recommendations after missed injections or following oral PrEP to replace an injection

Special populations

Elderly

No dose adjustment is required in elderly individuals. There are limited data available on the use of cabotegravir in individuals aged 65 years and over (see section 5.2).

Hepatic impairment

No dose adjustment is required in individuals with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score A or B). Cabotegravir has not been studied in individuals with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score C, [see section 5.2]). If administered in an individual with severe hepatic impairment, cabotegravir should be used with caution.

Renal impairment

No dose adjustment is required in individuals with mild to severe renal impairment (CrCl < 30 mL/min and not on dialysis [see section 5.2]). Cabotegravir has not been studied in individuals with end-stage renal disease on renal replacement therapy. As cabotegravir is greater than 99% protein bound, dialysis is not expected to alter exposures of cabotegravir. If administered in an individual on renal replacement therapy, cabotegravir should be used with caution.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of cabotegravir in children and adolescents weighing less than 35 kg have not been established. No data are available.

Method of administration

For intramuscular use. Injections must be administered to the ventrogluteal (recommended as it is located away from major nerves and blood vessels) or the dorsogluteal sites.

Care should be taken to avoid inadvertent injection into a blood vessel.

Once the suspension has been drawn into the syringe, the injection should be administered as soon as possible, but may remain in the syringe for up to 2 hours. If the medicinal product remains in the syringe for more than 2 hours, the filled syringe and needle must be discarded.

When administering Apretude injection, healthcare professionals should take into consideration the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the individual to ensure that the needle length is sufficient to reach the gluteus muscle.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Individuals with an unknown or positive HIV-1 status (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).

Concomitant use with rifampicin, rifapentine, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin or phenobarbital (see section 4.5).

Overall HIV-1 infection prevention strategy

Apretude may not always be effective in preventing HIV-1 infection (see section 5.1). Cabotegravir concentrations associated with significant antiviral activity (> 4x Protein Adjusted-Inhibitory Concentration, PA-IC90, see section 5.2) are achieved and maintained within hours after initiation of oral lead-in and within 7 days from the first injection (without oral lead-in). The exact time from initiation of Apretude for HIV-1 PrEP to maximal protection against HIV-1 infection is unknown.

Apretude should be used for PrEP as part of an overall HIV-1 infection prevention strategy including the use of other HIV-1 prevention measures (e.g. knowledge of HIV-1 status, regular testing for other sexually transmitted infections, condom use).

Apretude should only be used to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV-1 in individuals confirmed to be HIV negative (see section 4.3). Individuals should be re-confirmed to be HIV negative at each subsequent injection of Apretude. A combined antigen/antibody test as well as an HIV-RNA-based test should both be negative. Prescribers are advised to perform both tests, even if the result of the HIV-RNA-based test will become available after cabotegravir injection. If a combined testing strategy including both tests is not available, testing should follow local guidelines while taking Apretude.

If clinical symptoms consistent with acute viral infection are present and recent (< 1 month) exposures to HIV-1 are suspected, HIV-1 status should be reconfirmed.

Potential risk of resistance

There is a potential risk of developing resistance to cabotegravir if an individual acquires HIV-1 either before or while taking Apretude, or following discontinuation of Apretude (see Long- acting properties of Apretude injection). To minimise this risk, it is essential to confirm HIV-1 negative status at each subsequent injection of Apretude. A combined antigen/antibody test as well as an HIV-RNA-based test should both be negative. Prescribers are advised to perform both tests, even if the result of the HIV-RNA-based test will become available after cabotegravir injection. If a combined testing strategy including both tests is not available, testing should follow local guidelines.

Individuals who are diagnosed with HIV-1 should immediately begin anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

Apretude alone does not constitute a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 and HIV-1 resistance mutations have emerged in some individuals with undetected HIV-1 infection who were only taking Apretude.

Importance of adherence

Individuals should be counselled periodically to strictly adhere to the recommended oral lead-in and injection dosing schedule in order to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection and the potential development of resistance.

Long-acting properties of Apretude injection

Residual concentrations of cabotegravir may remain in the systemic circulation of individuals for prolonged periods (up to 12 months or longer), therefore, the prolonged release characteristics of Apretude injection should be taken into consideration when the medicinal product is discontinued and alternative not long-acting forms of PrEP are taken, as long as or at any time the risk of acquiring HIV is present in the months after discontinuation of Apretude (see section 5.2).

Healthcare professionals should discuss the benefit-risk of using Apretude with individuals of childbearing potential or during pregnancy (see section 4.6).

Hypersensitivity reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in association with integrase inhibitors including cabotegravir. These reactions were characterised by rash, constitutional findings and sometimes organ dysfunction, including liver injury. Apretude and other suspected medicinal products should be discontinued immediately, should signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity develop (including, but not limited to, severe rash, or rash accompanied by fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, facial oedema, hepatitis, eosinophilia or angioedema). Clinical status, including liver aminotransferases should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated (see sections 4.2, Long-acting properties of Apretude injection and 4.8).

Hepatoxicity

Hepatotoxicity has been reported in a limited number of individuals receiving cabotegravir with or without known pre-existing hepatic disease (see section 4.8). Administration of cabotegravir oral lead-in was used in clinical studies to help identify individuals who may be at risk of hepatotoxicity.

Clinical and laboratory monitoring are recommended and Apretude should be discontinued if hepatotoxicity is confirmed, and individuals managed as clinically indicated (see Long-acting properties of Apretude injection).

Adolescents

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempt have been reported with cabotegravir, particularly in those with pre-existing psychiatric illness (see section 4.8). Although clinical studies did not show an increased incidence of psychiatric illness in adolescents compared to adult subjects, given the vulnerability of the adolescent population, adolescents should be counselled before prescribing, and periodically while receiving Apretude, and managed as clinically indicated.

Interactions with medicinal products

Caution should be given to prescribing Apretude injection with medicinal products that may reduce its exposure (see section 4.5).

Effect of other medicinal products on the pharmacokinetics of cabotegravir

Cabotegravir is primarily metabolised by uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) 1A1 and to a lesser extent by UGT1A9. Medicinal products which are strong inducers of UGT1A1 or UGT1A9 are expected to decrease cabotegravir plasma concentrations leading to lack of efficacy (see section 4.3 and Table 3 below). In poor metabolisers of UGT1A1, representing a maximum clinical UGT1A1 inhibition, the mean AUC, C_max and C_tau of oral cabotegravir increased by up to 1.5-fold. No dosing adjustments for Apretude are recommended in the presence of UGT1A1 inhibitors.

Cabotegravir is a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), however, because of its high permeability, no alteration in absorption is expected when co-administered with either P-gp or BCRP inhibitors.

Effect of cabotegravir on the pharmacokinetics of other medicinal products

In vivo, cabotegravir did not have an effect on midazolam, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 probe. In vitro, cabotegravir did not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6, or CYP3A4.

In vitro cabotegravir inhibited organic anion transporters (OAT) 1 (IC₅₀=0.81 µ M) and OAT3 (IC₅₀=0.41 µ M). Therefore, caution is advised when co-dosing with narrow therapeutic index OAT1/3 substrate medicinal products (e.g. methotrexate).

Based on the in vitro and clinical drug interaction profile, cabotegravir is not expected to alter concentrations of other anti-retroviral medicinal products including protease inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, entry inhibitors, and ibalizumab.

No drug interaction studies have been performed with cabotegravir injection. The drug interaction data provided in Table 3 is obtained from studies with oral cabotegravir (increase is indicated as “ ↑ ” , decrease as “ ↓ ” , no change as “ ↔ ” , area under the concentration versus time curve as “ AUC” , maximum observed concentration as “ C_max” , concentration at end of dosing interval as “ C” ).

Table 3Drug interactions

Paediatric population

Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.

Women of childbearing potential

Women of childbearing potential should be counselled about prolonged release characteristics of cabotegravir injection. If a woman plans a pregnancy, the benefits and the risks of starting/continuing PrEP with Apretude should be discussed (see section 4.4).

Pregnancy

There are limited data from the use of cabotegravir in pregnant women. The effect of cabotegravir on pregnancy is unknown.

Cabotegravir was not teratogenic when studied in pregnant rats and rabbits but exposures higher than the therapeutic dose showed reproductive toxicity in animals (see section 5.3). The relevance to human pregnancy is unknown.

Apretude injection is not recommended during pregnancy unless the expected benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus.

Cabotegravir has been detected in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after an injection, therefore, consideration should be given to the potential for foetal exposure during pregnancy (see section 4.4).

Breast-feeding

It is expected that cabotegravir will be secreted into human milk based on animal data, although this has not been confirmed in humans. Cabotegravir may be present in human milk for up to 12 months or longer after the last Apretude injection.

It is recommended that women breast-feed only if the expected benefit justifies the potential risk to the infant.

Fertility

There are no data on the effects of cabotegravir on human male or female fertility. Animal studies indicate no effects of cabotegravir on male or female fertility (see section 5.3).

Individuals should be informed that dizziness, somnolence and fatigue have been reported during treatment with Apretude injection. The clinical status of the individual and the adverse reaction profile of Apretude injection should be borne in mind when considering the individual's ability to drive or operate machinery.

Summary of the safety profile

The most frequently reported adverse reactions in HPTN 083 were: Injection site reactions (82%), headache (17%) and diarrhoea (14%).

The most frequently reported adverse reactions in HPTN 084 were: Injection site reactions (38%), headache (23%) and transaminase increased (19%).

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions for cabotegravir were identified from the Phase III clinical studies; HPTN 083 and HPTN 084; and post-marketing data. In HPTN 083, the median time on blinded study product was 65 weeks and 2 days (1 day to 156 weeks and 1 day), with a total exposure on cabotegravir of 3270 person years. In HPTN 084, the median time on blinded study product was 64 weeks and 1 day (1 day to 153 weeks and 1 day), with a total exposure on cabotegravir of 1920 person years.

The adverse reactions considered at least possibly related to cabotegravir in adults and adolescents are listed in Table 4 by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1 000 to < 1/100), rare (≥ 1/10 000 to < 1/1 000), very rare (< 1/10 000).

Table 4 Tabulated list of adverse reactions¹

¹ The frequency of the identified adverse reactions are based on all reported occurrences of the adverse reactions and are not limited to those considered at least possibly related by the investigator.

²Abdominal pain includes the following grouped MedDRA preferred terms: upper abdominal pain and abdominal pain.

³Rash includes the following grouped MedDRA preferred terms: rash, rash erythematous, rash macular, rash maculo-papular, rash morbilliform, rash papular, rash pruritic.

⁴ISRs listed in the table have been seen in 2 participants or more.

⁵Pyrexia includes the following grouped MedDRA preferred terms: pyrexia and feeling hot. The majority of pyrexia adverse reactions were reported within one week of injections.

⁶This adverse reaction was identified through post-marketing reporting. The frequency category is based on individuals exposed to cabotegravir in randomised clinical studies.

*Please refer to section 4.4

Description of selected adverse reactions

Local injection site reactions (ISRs)

In HPTN 083, 2% of participants discontinued cabotegravir because of ISRs. Out of 20286 injections, 8900 ISRs were reported. A total of 2117 participants received at least one injection. Of the 1740 (82%) participants who experienced at least one ISR, the maximum severity of ISRs reported was mild (Grade 1, 34% of participants), moderate (Grade 2, 46% of participants) or severe (Grade 3, 3% of participants). The median duration of overall ISR adverse reactions was 4 days. The proportion of participants reporting ISRs at each visit and the severity of the ISRs decreased over time.

In HPTN 084, no participants discontinued cabotegravir because of ISRs. Out of 13068 injections, 1171 ISRs were reported. A total of 1519 participants received at least one injection. Of the 578 (38%) participants who experienced at last one ISR, the maximum severity of ISRs reported was mild (Grade 1, 25% of participants), moderate (Grade 2, 13% of participants) or severe (Grade 3, < 1% of participants). The median duration of overall ISR adverse reactions was 8 days. The proportion of participants reporting ISRs at each visit and the severity of the ISRs generally decreased over time.

Weight increased

At the week 41 and week 97 timepoints in HPTN 083, participants who received cabotegravir gained a median of 1.2 kg (Interquartile Range [IQR] -1.0, 3.5; n=1623) and 2.1 kg (IQR; -0.9, 5.9 n=601) in weight from baseline, respectively; those in the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) group gained a median of 0.0 kg (IQR -2.1, 2.4, n=1611) and 1.0 kg (IQR; -1.9, 4.0 n=598) in weight from baseline, respectively.

At the Week 41 and Week 97 timepoints in HPTN 084, participants who received cabotegravir gained a median of 2.0 kg (IQR 0.0, 5.0; n=1151) and 4.0 kg (IQR; 0.0, 8.0, n=216) in weight from baseline, respectively; those in the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) group gained a median of 1.0 kg (IQR -1.0, 4.0, n=1131) and 3.0 kg (IQR; -1.0, 6.0 n=218) in weight from baseline, respectively.

Changes in laboratory chemistries

In both HPTN 083 and HPTN 084, a similar proportion of participants in the cabotegravir and TDF/FTC groups were observed to have elevated hepatic transaminases (ALT/AST) levels and maximum post baseline increases were mostly Grades 1 and 2. In HPTN 083, the number of participants in the cabotegravir vs TDF/FTC groups who experienced maximum post baseline Grade 3 or 4 ALT levels were 40 (2%) vs 44 (2%) and Grade 3 or 4 AST levels were 68 (3%) vs 79 (3%), respectively. In HPTN 084, the number of participants in the cabotegravir vs TDF/FTC groups who experienced maximum post baseline Grade 3 or 4 ALT levels were 12 (< 1%) vs 18 (1%) and Grade 3 and 4 AST levels were 15 (< 1%) vs 14 (< 1%), respectively.

A few participants in both the cabotegravir and TDF/FTC groups had adverse reactions of AST or ALT increased which resulted in discontinuation of study product. In HPTN 083, the number of participants in the cabotegravir vs TDF/FTC groups who discontinued due to ALT increased were: 29 (1%) vs 31 (1%) and due to AST increased were 7 (< 1%) vs 8 (< 1%), respectively. In HPTN 084, the number of participants in the cabotegravir vs TDF/FTC groups who discontinued due to ALT increased were 12 (< 1%) vs 15 (< 1%) and there were no discontinuations due to AST increased.

Adolescents

Based on data from two open-label multicenter clinical trials in 64 HIV-uninfected, at-risk adolescents (below 18 years of age and weighing ≥ 35 kg at enrolment) receiving cabotegravir, no new safety issues were identified in adolescents compared with the safety profile established in adults receiving cabotegravir for HIV-1 PrEP in studies HPTN 083 and HPTN 084.

Based on data from the Week 16 analysis of the MOCHA study in 23 HIV-infected adolescents (aged at least 12 years and weighing ≥ 35 kg) receiving background combination anti retroviral therapy, no new safety concerns were identified in adolescents with the addition of oral cabotegravir followed by injectable cabotegravir (n=8) when compared with the safety profile established with cabotegravir in adults (see section 5.1).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

There is no specific treatment for Apretude overdose. If overdose occurs, the individual should be treated supportively with appropriate monitoring as necessary.

Cabotegravir is known to be highly protein bound in plasma; therefore, dialysis is unlikely to be helpful in removal of medicinal product from the body. Management of overdose with Apretude injection should take into consideration the prolonged exposure to the medicinal product following an injection (see section 4.4).

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiviral for systemic use, integrase inhibitor, ATC code: J05AJ04.

Mechanism of action

Cabotegravir inhibits HIV integrase by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integration which is essential for the HIV replication cycle.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Antiviral activity in cell culture

Cabotegravir exhibited antiviral activity against laboratory strains of wild-type HIV-1 with mean concentration of cabotegravir necessary to reduce viral replication by 50 percent (EC₅₀) values of 0.22 nM in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), 0.74 nM in 293T cells and 0.57 nM in MT-4 cells. Cabotegravir demonstrated antiviral activity in cell culture against a panel of 24 HIV-1 clinical isolates (three in each group of M clades A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, and 3 in group O) with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.02 nM to 1.06 nM for HIV-1. Cabotegravir EC₅₀ values against three HIV-2 clinical isolates ranged from 0.10 nM to 0.14 nM.

Antiviral Activity in combination with other medicinal products

No medicinal products with inherent anti-HIV activity were antagonistic to cabotegravir's antiretroviral activity (in vitro assessments were conducted in combination with rilpivirine, lamivudine, tenofovir and emtricitabine).

Resistance in vitro

Isolation from wild-type HIV-1 and activity against resistant strains: Viruses with > 10-fold increase in cabotegravir EC₅₀ were not observed during the 112-day passage of strain IIIB. The following integrase (IN) mutations emerged after passaging wild type HIV-1 (with T124A polymorphism) in the presence of cabotegravir: Q146L (fold-change range 1.3-4.6), S153Y (fold-change range 2.8-8.4), and I162M (fold-change = 2.8). As noted above, the detection of T124A is selection of a pre-existing minority variant that does not have differential susceptibility to cabotegravir. No amino acid substitutions in the integrase region were selected when passaging the wild-type HIV-1 NL-432 in the presence of 6.4 nM of cabotegravir through Day 56.

Among the multiple mutants, the highest fold-change was observed with mutants containing Q148K or Q148R. E138K/Q148H resulted in a 0.92-fold decrease in susceptibility to cabotegravir but E138K/Q148R resulted in a 12-fold decrease in susceptibility and E138K/Q148K resulted in an 81-fold decrease in susceptibility to cabotegravir. G140C/Q148R and G140S/Q148R resulted in a 22- and 12-fold decrease in susceptibility to cabotegravir, respectively. While N155H did not alter susceptibility to cabotegravir, N155H/Q148R resulted in a 61-fold decrease in susceptibility to cabotegravir. Other multiple mutants, which resulted in a FC between 5 and 10, are: T66K/L74M (FC=6.3), G140S/Q148K (FC=5.6), G140S/Q148H (FC=6.1) and E92Q/N155H (FC=5.3).

Resistance in vivo

HPTN 083

In the primary analysis of the HPTN 083 study, there were 13 incident infections on the cabotegravir arm and 39 incident infections on the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) arm. In the cabotegravir arm, 5 incident infections occurred when receiving cabotegravir PrEP injections, of which 4 participants received on-time injections and 1 participant had one injection off-schedule. Five incident infections occurred ≥ 6 months after the last dose of cabotegravir PrEP. Three incident infections occurred during the oral lead-in period.

HIV genotyping and phenotyping were attempted at the first visit where HIV viral load was > 500 copies/mL. Of the 13 incident infections in the cabotegravir arm, 4 participants had INSTI resistance mutations. In the TDF/FTC arm, the 4 participants with NRTI resistance (including 3 who had multi-class resistance) included 3 with M184V/I and one with K65R.

None of the 5 participants who were infected after prolonged interruption from cabotegravir administration had INSTI resistance mutations. Neither genotype nor phenotype could be generated for one of the 5 participants, with just 770 copies/mL HIV-1 RNA. Integrase phenotype could not be generated for one of the remaining 4 participants. The remaining 3 participants retained susceptibility to all INSTIs.

Three participants became infected during the oral lead-in phase, prior to receiving cabotegravir injections. One participant with undetectable plasma cabotegravir levels had no INSTI resistance mutations and was susceptible to all INSTIs. Two participants with detectable plasma cabotegravir concentrations had INSTI resistance mutations. The first participant had INSTI resistant mutations E138E/K, G140G/S, Q148R and E157Q. Integrase phenotype could not be generated. The second participant had INSTI resistance mutations E138A and Q148R. This virus was resistant to cabotegravir (fold-change =5.92) but susceptible to dolutegravir (fold-change=1.69).

Five participants acquired HIV-1, despite on time cabotegravir injections for 4 participants and one off-schedule injection for one participant. Two participants had viral loads too low to analyse. The third participant had no INSTI resistance mutations at the first viraemic visit (Week 17) but had R263K at 112 and 117 days later. While phenotype could not be determined 112 days later, day 117 phenotype showed this virus to be susceptible to both cabotegravir (fold-change= 2.32) and dolutegravir (fold-change=2.29). The fourth participant had INSTI resistance mutations G140A and Q148R. Phenotype showed resistance to cabotegravir (fold-change=13) but susceptibility to dolutegravir (fold-change=2.09). The fifth participant had no INSTI resistance mutations.

In addition to the 13 incident infections, one further participant was HIV-1 infected at enrolment and had no INSTI resistance mutations at that time, however, 60 days later, INSTI resistance mutation E138K and Q148K were detected. Phenotype could not be generated.

Following the primary analysis, extended retrospective virologic testing was performed to better characterise the timing of HIV infections. As a result, one of the 13 incident infections in a participant receiving on time cabotegravir injections was determined to be a prevalent infection.

HPTN 084

In the primary analysis of the HPTN 084 study, there were 4 incident infections on the cabotegravir arm and 36 incident infections on the TDF/FTC arm.

In the cabotegravir arm, 2 incident infections occurred while receiving injections; one participant had 3 delayed cabotegravir injections and both had been non-adherent to oral cabotegravir.

Two incident infections occurred after the last dose of oral cabotegravir; both participants were non-adherent to oral cabotegravir. The first HIV positive visit occurred approx. 11 weeks after enrolment for one participant and 57 weeks after enrolment for the other.

HIV genotyping was attempted at the first visit where HIV viral load was > 500 c/mL (first viraemic visit). HIV genotyping results were available for 3 of the 4 cabotegravir arm participants. No major INSTI resistance mutations were detected.

HIV genotyping results were available for 33 of the 36 incident infections in the TDF/FTC group. One participant had a major NRTI mutation (M184V); this participant also had NNRTI resistance with the mutation K103N. Nine other participants had NNRTI resistance (7 had K103N, alone or with E138A or P225H; 1 had K101E alone; 1 had E138K alone).

Following the primary analysis, extended retrospective virologic testing was performed to better characterise the timing of HIV-1 infections. As a result, 1 of the 4 HIV-1 incident infections in participants receiving cabotegravir was determined to be a prevalent infection.

Clinical efficacy and safety

The efficacy of cabotegravir for PrEP has been evaluated in two randomised (1:1), double blind, multi-site, two-arm, controlled studies. The efficacy of cabotegravir was compared with daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC).

Participants randomised to receive cabotegravir initiated oral lead-in dosing with one 30 mg cabotegravir tablet and a placebo daily, for up to 5 weeks, followed by cabotegravir intramuscular (IM) injection (single 600 mg injection, at months 1, 2 and every 2 months thereafter and a daily placebo tablet. Participants randomised to receive TDF/FTC initiated oral TDF 300 mg/FTC 200 mg and placebo for up to 5 weeks, followed by oral TDF 300 mg/FTC 200 mg daily and placebo (IM) injection (3 mL, 20% lipid injectable emulsion at months 1, 2 and every 2 months thereafter).

HPTN 083

In HPTN 083, a non-inferiority study, 4566 cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men, were randomised 1:1 and received either cabotegravir (n=2281) or TDF/FTC (n=2285) as blinded study medicinal products up to Week 153.

At baseline, the median age of participants was 26 years, 12% were transgender women, 72% were non-white, 67% were < 30 years and < 1% were over 60 years.

The primary endpoint was the rate of incident HIV infections among participants randomised to oral cabotegravir and cabotegravir injections compared to oral TDF/FTC (corrected for early stopping). The primary analysis demonstrated the superiority of cabotegravir compared to TDF/FTC with a 66% reduction in the risk of acquiring incident HIV infection, hazard ratio (95% CI) 0.34 (0.18, 0.62); further testing revealed one of the infections on cabotegravir to be prevalent then yielding a 69% reduction in the risk of incident infection relative to TDF/FTC (see Table 5).

Table 5 Primary Efficacy Endpoint: Comparison of Rates of Incident HIV Infections during Randomised Phase in HPTN 083 (mITT, extended retrospective virologic testing)

¹Following the primary analysis, extended retrospective virologic testing was performed to better characterise the timing of HIV infections. As a result, one of the 13 incident infections on cabotegravir was determined to be a prevalent infection. The original hazard ratio (95% CI) from the primary analysis is 0.34 (0.18, 0.62).

Findings from all subgroup analyses were consistent with the overall protective effect, with a lower rate of incident HIV-1 infections observed for participants randomised to the cabotegravir group compared with participants randomised to the TDF/FTC group (see Table 6).

Table 6 Rate of incident HIV-1 infection by subgroup in HPTN 083 (mITT, extended retrospective virologic testing)

MSM= cisgender men who have sex with men

TGW = Transgender women who have sex with men

HPTN 084

In HPTN 084, a superiority study, 3224 cisgender women were randomised 1:1 and received either cabotegravir (n=1614) or TDF/FTC (n=1610) as blinded study medicinal product up to Week 153.

At baseline, the median age of participants was 25 years, > 99% were non-white, > 99% were cisgender women and 49% were < 25 years of age, with a maximum age of 45 years.

The primary endpoint was the rate of incident HIV infections among participants randomised to oral cabotegravir and cabotegravir injections compared to oral TDF/FTC (corrected for early stopping). The primary analysis demonstrated the superiority (p< 0.0001) of cabotegravir compared to TDF/FTC with an 88% reduction in the risk of acquiring incident HIV-1 infection hazard ratio (95% CI) 0.12 (0.05, 0.31); further testing revealed 1 of the infections on cabotegravir to be prevalent then yielding a 90% reduction in the risk of HIV-1 incident infection relative to TDF/FTC (see Table 7).

Table 7 Primary Efficacy Endpoint in HPTN 084: Comparison of Rates of Incident HIV Infections during Randomised Phase (mITT, extended retrospective virologic testing)

¹Following the primary analysis, extended retrospective virologic testing was performed to better characterise the timing of HIV-1 infections. As a result, 1 of the 4 HIV-1 incident infections in participants receiving cabotegravir was determined to be a prevalent infection. The original hazard ratio corrected for early stopping (95% CI) from the primary analysis is 0.12 (0.05, 0.31).

Findings from pre-planned subgroup analyses were consistent with the overall protective effect, with a lower rate of incident HIV-1 infections observed for participants randomised to the cabotegravir group compared with participants randomised to the TDF/FTC group (see Table 8).

Table 8 Rate of incident HIV-1 infection by subgroup in HPTN 084 (mITT, extended retrospective virologic testing)

Paediatric population

The European Medicines Agency has waived the obligation to submit the results of studies with Apretude injections in children under the age of 12 years, in the prevention of HIV-1 infection.

Cabotegravir pharmacokinetics is similar between healthy and HIV-infected subjects. The pharmacokinetic variability of cabotegravir is moderate to high. In HIV-infected subjects participating in Phase III studies, between-subject CVb% for C_tau ranged from 39 to 48%. Higher between-subject variability ranging from 65 to 76% was observed with single dose administration of long-acting cabotegravir injection.

Table 9 Pharmacokinetic parameters following cabotegravir orally once daily, and initiation and every 2 month continuation intramuscular injections in adults

¹ Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameter values were based on individual post-hoc estimates from population PK models for subjects in Phase III treatment studies.

² tau is dosing interval: 24 hours for oral administration; 1 month for the initial injection and 2 months for every 2 months for IM injections of extended-release injectable suspension.

³ Oral lead-in pharmacokinetic parameter values represent steady-state.

⁴ Initial injection C_max values primarily reflect oral dosing because the initial injection was administered on the same day as the last oral dose; however, the AUC_(0-tau) and C_tau values reflect the initial injection. When administered without oral lead-in to HIV infected recipients (n = 110), the observed cabotegravir geometric mean (5^th, 95^th percentile) C_max (1 week post-initial injection) was 1.89 mcg/mL (0.438, 5.69) and C_tau was 1.43 mcg/mL (0.403, 3.90).

⁵ Pharmacokinetic parameter values represent steady state.

Absorption

Cabotegravir injection exhibits absorption-limited pharmacokinetics because cabotegravir is slowly absorbed into the systemic circulation from the gluteal muscle resulting in sustained plasma concentrations. Following a single 600 mg intramuscular dose, plasma cabotegravir concentrations are detectable on the first day with median cabotegravir concentrations at 4 hours post dose of 0.290 μ g/mL, which is above in-vitro PA-IC90 of 0.166 μ g/mL, and reach maximum plasma concentration with a median T_max of 7 days. Target concentrations are achieved following the initial intramuscular (IM) injection (see Table 9). Cabotegravir has been detected in plasma up to 52 weeks or longer after administration of a single injection.

Distribution

Cabotegravir is highly bound (approximately > 99%) to human plasma proteins, based on in vitro data. Following administration of oral tablets, the mean apparent oral volume of distribution (Vz/F) in plasma was 12.3 L. In humans, the estimate of plasma cabotegravir Vc/F was 5.27 L and Vp/F was 2.43 L. These volume estimates, along with the assumption of high F, suggest some distribution of cabotegravir to the extracellular space.

Cabotegravir is present in the female and male genital tract, following a single 600 mg IM injection, as observed in a study in healthy participants (n=15). Median cabotegravir concentrations at Day 3 (the earliest tissue PK sample) were 0.49 μ g/mL in cervical tissue, 0.29 μ g/mL in cervicovaginal fluid, 0.37 μ g/mL in vaginal tissue, 0.32 μ g/mL in rectal tissue, and 0.69 μ g/mL in rectal fluid, which are above the in vitro PA-IC90.

In vitro, cabotegravir was not a substrate of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1, OATP2B1, OATP1B3 or organic cation transporter (OCT1).

Biotransformation

Cabotegravir is primarily metabolised by UGT1A1 with a minor UGT1A9 component. Cabotegravir is the predominant circulating compound in plasma, representing > 90% of plasma total radiocarbon. Following oral administration in humans, cabotegravir is primarily eliminated through metabolism; renal elimination of unchanged cabotegravir is low (< 1% of the dose). Forty-seven percent of the total oral dose is excreted as unchanged cabotegravir in the faeces. It is unknown if all or part of this is due to unabsorbed medicinal product or biliary excretion of the glucuronide conjugate, which can be further degraded to form the parent compound in the gut lumen. Cabotegravir was observed to be present in duodenal bile samples. The glucuronide metabolite was also present in some, but not all, of the duodenal bile samples. Twenty-seven percent of the total oral dose is excreted in the urine, primarily as a glucuronide metabolite (75% of urine radioactivity, 20% of total dose).

Cabotegravir is not a clinically relevant inhibitor of the following enzymes and transporters: CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, UGT2B4, UGT2B7, UGT2B15, and UGT2B17, P-gp, BCRP, Bile salt export pump (BSEP), OCT1, OCT2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE) 1, MATE 2-K, multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 2 or MRP4.

Elimination

Cabotegravir mean apparent terminal phase half-life is absorption-rate limited and is estimated to be 5.6 to 11.5 weeks after a single dose IM injection. The significantly longer apparent half-life compared to oral reflects elimination from the injection site into the systemic circulation. The apparent CL/F was 0.151 L/h.

Linearity/non-linearity

Plasma cabotegravir exposure increases in proportion or slightly less than in proportion to dose following single and repeat IM injection of doses ranging from 100 to 800 mg.

Polymorphisms

In a meta-analysis of healthy and HIV-infected participant trials, HIV-infected participants with UGT1A1 genotypes conferring poor cabotegravir metabolism had a 1.2-fold mean increase in steady-state cabotegravir AUC, C_max, and C_tau following long-acting injection administration compared with participants with genotypes associated with normal metabolism via UGT1A1. These differences are not considered clinically relevant. No dose adjustment is required in individuals with UGT1A1 polymorphisms.

Special populations

Gender

Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant effect of gender on the exposure of cabotegravir. In addition, no clinically relevant differences in plasma cabotegravir concentrations were observed in the HPTN 083 study by gender, including in cisgender men and transgender women with or without cross-sex hormone therapy use. Therefore, no dose adjustment is required on the basis of gender.

Race

Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant effect of race on the exposure of cabotegravir, therefore no dose adjustment is required on the basis of race.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant effect of BMI on the exposure of cabotegravir, therefore no dose adjustment is required on the basis of BMI.

Adolescents

Population pharmacokinetic analyses revealed no clinically relevant differences in exposure between the HIV-1 infected adolescent and HIV-1 infected and uninfected adult participants from the cabotegravir development programme, therefore, no dose adjustment is needed for adolescents weighing ≥ 35 kg.

Table 10 Predicted pharmacokinetic parameters following cabotegravir orally once daily, and initiation and every 2 month continuation intramuscular injections in adolescents Participants aged 12 to less than 18 years (≥ 35 kg)

¹ Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameter values were based on population PK model simulations in a virtual HIV-1 infected adolescent population weighing 35-156 kg.

² tau is dosing interval: 24 hours for oral administration; 1 month for the initial injection, 2 months for every 2 months for IM injections of extended-release injectable suspension.

³Oral lead-in pharmacokinetic parameter values represent steady-state.

⁴ Initial injection C_max values primarily reflect oral dosing because the initial injection was administered on the same day as the last oral dose; however, the AUC_(0-tau) and C_tau values reflect the initial injection.

⁵ Pharmacokinetic parameter values represent steady state.

Elderly

Population pharmacokinetic analysis of cabotegravir revealed no clinically relevant effect of age on cabotegravir exposure. Pharmacokinetic data for cabotegravir in subjects of > 65 years old are limited.

Renal impairment

No clinically important pharmacokinetic differences between subjects with severe renal impairment (CrCL < 30 mL/min and not on dialysis) and matching healthy subjects were observed. No dose adjustment is necessary for individuals with mild to severe renal impairment (not on dialysis). Cabotegravir has not been studied in individuals on dialysis.

Hepatic impairment

No clinically important pharmacokinetic differences between subjects with moderate hepatic impairment and matching healthy subjects were observed. No dose adjustment is necessary for individuals with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Score A or B). The effect of severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Score C) on the pharmacokinetics of cabotegravir has not been studied.

Carcinogenesis and mutagenesis

Cabotegravir was not mutagenic or clastogenic using in vitro tests in bacteria and cultured mammalian cells, and an in vivo rodent micronucleus assay. Cabotegravir was not carcinogenic in long term studies in the mouse and rat.

Reproductive toxicology studies

No effect on male or female fertility was observed in rats treated with cabotegravir at oral doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (> 20 times the exposure in humans at the maximum recommended dose (MRHD) of 30 mg/day orally).

In an embryo-foetal development study there were no adverse developmental outcomes following oral administration of cabotegravir to pregnant rabbits up to a maternal toxic dose of 2,000 mg/kg/day (0.66 times the exposure in humans at the oral MRHD) or to pregnant rats at doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (> 30 times the exposure in humans at the oral MRHD). In rats, alterations in foetal growth (decreased body weights) were observed at oral dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day. Studies in pregnant rats showed that cabotegravir crosses the placenta and can be detected in foetal tissue.

In rat pre- and post-natal (PPN) studies cabotegravir reproducibly induced a delayed onset of parturition, and an increase in the number of stillbirths and neonatal mortalities at oral dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day (> 30 times the exposure in humans at the oral MRHD). At a lower dose of 5 mg/kg/day (approximately 10 times the exposure in humans at the oral MRHD) cabotegravir was not associated with delayed parturition or neonatal mortality. In rabbit and rat studies there was no effect on survival when foetuses were delivered by caesarean section. Given the exposure ratio, the relevance to humans is unknown.

Repeated dose toxicity

The effect of prolonged daily treatment with high doses of cabotegravir has been evaluated in repeat oral dose toxicity studies in rats (26 weeks) and in monkeys (39 weeks). There were no drug-related adverse reactions in rats or monkeys given cabotegravir orally at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day or 500 mg/kg/day, respectively.

In a 14 day and 28 day monkey toxicity study, gastro-intestinal (GI) effects (body weight loss, emesis, loose/watery faeces, and moderate to severe dehydration) were observed and were the result of local medicinal product administration (oral) and not systemic toxicity.

In a 3 month study in rats, when cabotegravir was administered by monthly sub-cutaneous (SC) injection (up to 100 mg/kg/dose); monthly IM injection (up to 75 mg/kg/dose) or weekly SC injection (100 mg/kg/dose), there were no adverse reactions noted and no new target organ toxicities (at exposures > 49 times the exposure in humans at the MRHD of 600 mg IM dose).

Mannitol (E421)

Polysorbate 20 (E432)

Macrogol (E1521)

Water for injections

In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

Unopened vial

3 years

Shelf life of suspension in syringe

Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 2 hours at 25° C.

Once the suspension has been drawn into the syringe, the injection should be used as soon as possible, but may be stored for up to 2 hours. If 2 hours are exceeded, the medicinal product, syringe and needle must be discarded. From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user.

Unopened vial

Do not freeze.

Suspension in syringe

Do not store above 25° C (see section 6.3).

Brown 3 mL type I glass vial, with bromobutyl rubber stopper and a grey aluminium overseal with an orange plastic flip-cap.

Pack sizes of 1 vial or 25 vials. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

Hold the vial firmly and vigorously shake for a full 10 seconds. Invert the vial and check the resuspension. It should look uniform. If the suspension is not uniform, shake the vial again. It is normal to see small air bubbles.

Full instructions for use and handling of Apretude injection are provided in the package leaflet (see Instructions for Use).