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Dosing, administration, and testing schedules

APRETUDE must be administered by a healthcare provider.

Before initiating APRETUDE, reiterate the importance of adhering to the dosing and testing schedule to reduce the risk of HIV-1 acquisition and development of resistance.

Dosing and Testing Schedule

Adherence you can confirm with as few as 6 in-office injections per year

Starting your patients on APRETUDE*

Flowchart depicting APRETUDE dosing

APRETUDE is administered by a healthcare provider as a single 600-mg (3-mL) gluteal intramuscular injection

Healthcare providers should carefully select individuals who agree to the required injection dosing and testing schedule and counsel patients on the importance of adherence to help reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection and development of resistance.

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APRETUDE injections can be given up to 7 days before or after the target injection date

*For patients concomitantly receiving rifabutin, please see full Prescribing Information for the adjusted recommended dosing schedule for APRETUDE.

After the first injection.

  • Optional oral lead-in

    Oral lead-in is not required but may be used prior to initiation of APRETUDE to assess the tolerability of cabotegravir.

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    The recommended oral lead-in dose is one 30-mg tablet of cabotegravir daily for approximately 1 month (at least 28 days). Initiation injections should be administered on the last day of oral lead-in, if used, or within 3 days thereafter.

HIV-1 testing and APRETUDE

  • HIV-1 testing should also occur:
    • When recent exposure to HIV is suspected or clinical symptoms consistent with HIV-1 (eg, fever, fatigue, myalgia, skin rash) are present
    • Upon diagnosis of any other STI
  • If positive HIV-1 status is confirmed, transition to a complete HIV-1 treatment
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When a payer covers PrEP, HIV testing should also be covered.1 The payer or your lab can help you understand which tests may be covered and available.

FDA=US Food and Drug Administration;
PrEP=pre-exposure prophylaxis; STI=sexually transmitted infection.

  • Missed Injections

    Continuing APRETUDE after planned missed injections

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    Adherence to the injection dosing schedule is strongly recommended. Individuals who miss their Target Injection Date should be clinically reassessed to ensure that resumption of APRETUDE remains appropriate.

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    If your patient plans to miss their Target Injection Date by >7 days, daily oral cabotegravir can be prescribed for a duration of up to 2 months to replace 1 missed scheduled every-2-month injection of APRETUDE.

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    The first dose of oral cabotegravir should be taken approximately 2 months after the last injection dose of APRETUDE.

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    Restart injections with APRETUDE on the day oral dosing completes or within 3 days.

    How much time has passed since your patient’s missed Target Injection Date?

    ≤1 month since missed Target Injection Date
    • Resume injections on final day of oral cabotegravir or within 3 days
    • Continue with every-2-month dosing schedule thereafter
    >1 month since missed Target Injection Date
    • Repeat initiation injections (2 injections 1 month apart) on the final day of oral cabotegravir or within 3 days
    • Continue with every-2-month dosing schedule thereafter

    Continuing APRETUDE after unplanned missed injections

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    Adherence to scheduled injection visits is important.

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    If your patient missed their Target Injection Date by >7 days and did not plan for it by taking oral cabotegravir, clinically reassess them to determine whether APRETUDE remains appropriate, and if so, confirm HIV-1–negative status prior to injection.

    How much time has passed since your patient’s missed Target Injection Date?

    ≤1 month since missed Target Injection Date
    • Resume injections as soon as possible
    • Continue with every-2-month dosing schedule thereafter
    >1 month since missed Target Injection Date
    • Repeat initiation injections (2 injections 1 month apart)
    • Continue with every-2-month dosing schedule thereafter

    For oral PrEP durations greater than 2 months, an alternative oral regimen is recommended.

Injection Scheduler Tool

Use this tool to determine your patient’s APRETUDE injection schedule

You will be able to select a target initiation date and view a potential schedule, including subsequent injection dates and flexible dosing window.

Create an injection schedule

 

Find an Alternative Site for Administration (ASA) with ViiVConnect

The ViiVConnect ASA Locator tool can help you locate medical facilities that may administer APRETUDE to patients and manage the medication process.

Find an ASA

 

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Reference:

  1. Dept of Labor, Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Treasury. FAQs About Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 47. July 19, 2021. https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/aca-part-47.pdf