Cabotegravir
FDA Drug Information • Also known as: Apretude
- Brand Names
- Apretude
- Dosage Form
- POWDER
- Product Type
- BULK INGREDIENT
⚠ Boxed Warning (Black Box)
WARNING: RISK OF DRUG RESISTANCE WITH USE OF APRETUDE FOR HIV-1 PRE‑EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP) IN UNDIAGNOSED HIV-1 INFECTION Individuals must be tested for HIV-1 infection prior to initiating APRETUDE or oral cabotegravir, and with each subsequent injection of APRETUDE, using a test approved or cleared by the FDA for the diagnosis of acute or primary HIV-1 infection. Drug-resistant HIV-1 variants have been identified with use of APRETUDE by individuals with undiagnosed HIV-1 infection. Do not initiate APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP unless negative infection status is confirmed. Individuals who acquire HIV-1 while receiving APRETUDE for PrEP must transition to a complete HIV-1 treatment regimen [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 ), Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . WARNING: RISK OF DRUG RESISTANCE WITH USE OF APRETUDE FOR HIV-1 PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP) IN UNDIAGNOSED HIV-1 INFECTION See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Individuals must be tested for HIV-1 infection prior to initiating APRETUDE or oral cabotegravir, and with each subsequent injection of APRETUDE, using a test approved or cleared by the FDA for the diagnosis of acute or primary HIV-1 infection. Drug-resistant HIV-1 variants have been identified with use of APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP by individuals with undiagnosed HIV-1 infection. Do not initiate APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP unless negative infection status is confirmed. Individuals who acquire HIV-1 while receiving APRETUDE for PrEP must transition to a complete HIV-1 treatment regimen. ( 2.2 , 4 , 5.1 )
Description
11 DESCRIPTION APRETUDE contains cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension, an HIV INSTI. The chemical name of cabotegravir is ( 3S,11aR )-N-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)methyl]-6-hydroxy-3-methyl-5,7-dioxo-2,3,5,7,11,11a-hexahydro[1,3]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrido[1,2-d]pyrazine-8-carboxamide. The empirical formula is C 19 H 17 F 2 N 3 O 5 and the molecular weight is 405.35 g/mol. It has the following structural formula: Cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension is a white to light pink free-flowing suspension for intramuscular injection in a sterile single-dose vial. Each vial contains 3 mL of the following: cabotegravir 200 mg/mL and the inactive ingredients mannitol (35 mg/mL), polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 (20 mg/mL), polysorbate 20 (20 mg/mL), and Water for Injection. The vial stoppers are not made with natural rubber latex. Cabotegravir chemical structure
What Is Cabotegravir Used For?
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE APRETUDE is indicated for pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at risk for HIV-1 acquisition. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiating APRETUDE (with or without an oral lead-in with oral cabotegravir) for HIV-1 PrEP [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 , 2.4 ), Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . APRETUDE is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) indicated for PrEP to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at risk for HIV-1 acquisition. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiating APRETUDE (with or without an oral lead-in with oral cabotegravir) for HIV-1 PrEP. ( 1 )
Dosage and Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
HIV-1 Screening: Screen all individuals for HIV-1 infection immediately prior to initiating APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP and prior to each injection while taking APRETUDE. ( 2.2 ) Prior to initiating APRETUDE, an oral lead-in dosing may be used for approximately 1 month with the recommended dosage to assess the tolerability of APRETUDE. ( 2.4 ) For gluteal intramuscular injection only. ( 2.5 , 2.7 ) Recommended Dosing Schedule: Initiate APRETUDE 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. ( 2.5 ) 2.1 Dosage and Administration Overview APRETUDE contains cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension in a single-dose vial [see Dosage Forms and Strengths ( 3 )] . APRETUDE must be administered by a healthcare provider by gluteal intramuscular injection [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 )] . APRETUDE may be initiated with oral cabotegravir prior to the intramuscular injections or the patient may proceed directly to injection of APRETUDE without an oral lead-in [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . 2.2 HIV-1 Screening for Individuals Receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Individuals must be tested for HIV-1 infection prior to initiating APRETUDE or oral cabotegravir, and with each subsequent injection of APRETUDE, using a test approved or cleared by the FDA for the diagnosis of acute or primary HIV-1 infection. If an antigen/antibody-specific test is used and provides negative results, then such negative results should be confirmed using an RNA-specific assay, even if the results of the RNA-assay are available after APRETUDE or oral cabotegravir administration [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . 2.3 Adherence to APRETUDE Prior to starting APRETUDE, healthcare providers should carefully select individuals who agree to the required injection dosing and testing schedule and counsel individuals about the importance of adherence to scheduled dosing visits to help reduce the risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection and development of resistance [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.3 ), Microbiology ( 12.4 )] . 2.4 Optional Oral Lead-In Dosing to Assess Tolerability of APRETUDE The healthcare provider and individual may decide to use an oral lead-in with oral cabotegravir prior to the initiation of APRETUDE to assess the tolerability of cabotegravir or the healthcare provider and individual may proceed directly to injection of APRETUDE without the use of an oral lead-in [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 )] . No safety and efficacy data are available for use of APRETUDE without an oral lead-in [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ), Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )]. However, in HIV-1 treatment clinical trials, data show that an oral lead-in is not needed to ensure adequate plasma...Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are described below and in other sections of the labeling:
Hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Depressive disorders [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] The most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in at least 1% of participants receiving APRETUDE were injection site reactions, diarrhea, headache, pyrexia, fatigue, sleep disorders, nausea, dizziness, flatulence, abdominal pain, vomiting, myalgia, rash, decreased appetite, somnolence, back pain, and upper respiratory tract infection. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact ViiV Healthcare at 1-877-844-8872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect rates observed in practice. Clinical Trials Experience in Adults The safety assessment of APRETUDE is based on the analysis of data from 2 international, multicenter, double-blind trials, HPTN 083 and HPTN 084 [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . Adverse reactions were reported while on blinded study product following exposure to APRETUDE extended-release injectable suspension and oral cabotegravir tablets as oral lead-in. The median time on blinded study product in HPTN 083 was 65 weeks and 2 days (range: 1 day to 156 weeks and 1 day), with a total exposure on cabotegravir of 3,231 person‑years. The median time on blinded study product in HPTN 084 was 64 weeks and 1 day (range: 1 day to 153 weeks and 1 day), with a total exposure on cabotegravir of 2,009 person‑years. The most common adverse reactions regardless of severity reported in at least 1% of participants in HPTN 083 or HPTN 084 are presented in Table 4 . In HPTN 083, 6% of participants in the group receiving APRETUDE intramuscular injection every 2 months and 4% of participants receiving oral TRUVADA [emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)] once daily discontinued due to adverse events (all causality). Non-injection-site–associated adverse events leading to discontinuation and occurring in ≥1% of participants were increased alanine aminotransferase with APRETUDE and TRUVADA. In HPTN 084, 1% of participants receiving APRETUDE and 1% of participants receiving TRUVADA discontinued due to adverse events. The most commonly reported adverse event (all causality) leading to discontinuation was increased alanine aminotransferase (<1%) with APRETUDE and TRUVADA. The side-by-side tabulation is to simplify presentation; direct comparison across trials should not be made due to differing trials. Table 4. Adverse Drug Reactions a (All Grades) Reported in at Least 1% of Participants Receiving APRETUDE in Either HPTN 083 or HPTN 084 a Adverse reactions defined as “treatment-related” as assessed by the investigator, with exception of injection site reactions, where all injection site reactions were reported regardless of causality. b Participants who received injection: HPTN 083, APRETUDE (n = 2,117) and TRUVADA (n = 2,081); HPTN 084, APRETUDE (n = 1,519) and TRUVADA (n = 1,516). c Pyrexia includes pyrexia, feeling hot, chills, influenza-like illness. d Fatigue includes fatigue, malaise. e Sleep disorders includes insomnia, abnormal dreams. f Abdominal pain includes abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain. g Rash includes rash, erythema, pruritis, macular, papular, maculopapular. Adverse Reactions HPTN 083 HPTN 084 APRETUDE Every 2 Months (n = 2,281) TRUVADA Once Daily (n = 2,285) APRETUDE Every 2 Months (n = 1,614) TRUVADA Once Daily (n = 1,610) Injection site reactions b 82% 35% 38% 11% Diarrhea 4% 5% 4% 4% Headache 4% 3% 12% 13% Pyrexia c 4% <1% <1% <1% Fatigue d 4% 2% 3% 3% Sleep disorders e 3% 3% 1% 1% Nausea 3% 5% 4% 8% Dizziness 2%...Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS
Refer to the full prescribing information for important drug interactions with APRETUDE. ( 4 , 5.7 , 7 ) Drugs that induce uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A1 may significantly decrease plasma concentrations of cabotegravir. ( 4 , 7.2 , 7.3 ) 7.1 Use of Other Antiretroviral Drugs after Discontinuation of APRETUDE Residual concentrations of cabotegravir may remain in the systemic circulation of individuals for prolonged periods (up to 12 months or longer). These residual concentrations are not expected to affect the exposures of antiretroviral drugs that are initiated after discontinuation of APRETUDE [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ), Drug Interactions ( 7.4 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . 7.2 Potential for Other Drugs to Affect APRETUDE Cabotegravir is primarily metabolized by UGT1A1 with some contribution from UGT1A9. Drugs that are strong inducers of UGT1A1 or 1A9 are expected to decrease cabotegravir plasma concentrations; therefore, coadministration of APRETUDE with these drugs is contraindicated [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . 7.3 Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions Information regarding potential drug interactions with cabotegravir is provided in Table 8 . These recommendations are based on either drug interaction trials following oral administration of cabotegravir or predicted interactions due to the expected magnitude of the interaction [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Table 8 includes potentially significant interactions but is not all inclusive. Table 8. Drug Interactions with APRETUDE ↑ = Increase, ↓ = Decrease, ↔ = No change. Concomitant Drug Class: Drug Name Effect on Concentration Clinical Comment Anticonvulsants: Carbamazepine Oxcarbazepine Phenobarbital Phenytoin ↓Cabotegravir Coadministration is contraindicated with APRETUDE due to potential for significant decreases in plasma concentration of APRETUDE. Antimycobacterials: Rifampin Rifapentine ↓Cabotegravir Antimycobacterial: Rifabutin ↓Cabotegravir When rifabutin is started before or concomitantly with the first initiation injection of APRETUDE, the recommended dosing of APRETUDE is one 600-mg (3-mL) injection, followed 2 weeks later by a second 600‑mg (3-mL) initiation injection and monthly thereafter while on rifabutin. When rifabutin is started at the time of the second initiation injection or later, the recommended dosing schedule of APRETUDE is 600‑mg (3 mL) monthly while on rifabutin. After stopping rifabutin, the recommended dosing schedule of APRETUDE is 600-mg (3 mL) every 2 months. 7.4 Drugs without Clinically Significant Interactions with Cabotegravir Based on drug interaction study results, the following drugs can be coadministered with cabotegravir (non-antiretrovirals) or given after discontinuation of cabotegravir (antiretrovirals and non-antiretrovirals) without a dose adjustment: etravirine, midazolam, oral...Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS APRETUDE is contraindicated in individuals:
with unknown or positive HIV-1 status [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.2 )] . with previous hypersensitivity reaction to cabotegravir [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] . receiving the following coadministered drugs for which significant decreases in cabotegravir plasma concentrations may occur due to uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A1 enzyme induction, which may result in reduced effectiveness [see Drug Interactions ( 7.2 , 7.3 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] : o Anticonvulsants: Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin o Antimycobacterials: Rifampin, rifapentine Unknown or positive HIV-1 status. ( 4 ) Previous hypersensitivity reaction to cabotegravir. ( 4 ) Coadministration with drugs where significant decreases in cabotegravir plasma concentrations may occur. ( 4 )Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in individuals exposed to APRETUDE during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register individuals by calling the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR) at 1-800-258-4263. Risk Summary There are insufficient human data on the use of APRETUDE during pregnancy to adequately assess a drug-associated risk of birth defects and miscarriage. Discuss the benefit-risk of using APRETUDE with individuals of childbearing potential or during pregnancy. Cabotegravir use in pregnant individuals has not been evaluated. APRETUDE should be used during pregnancy only if the expected benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. The APR has been established to monitor for birth defects following prenatal exposure to antiretrovirals. The rate of miscarriage is not reported in the APR. The background rate for major birth defects in a U.S. reference population of the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP) is 2.7%. The estimated background rate of miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies in the U.S. general population is 15% to 20%. The APR uses the MACDP as the U.S. reference population for birth defects in the general population. The MACDP evaluates mothers and infants from a limited geographic area and does not include outcomes for births that occurred at <20 weeks’ gestation. In animal reproduction studies with oral cabotegravir, a delay in the onset of parturition and increased stillbirths and neonatal deaths were observed in a rat pre- and postnatal development study at >28 times the exposure at the recommended human dose (RHD). No evidence of adverse developmental outcomes was observed with oral cabotegravir in rats or rabbits (>28 times or similar to the exposure at the RHD, respectively) given during organogenesis (see Data) . Clinical Considerations Cabotegravir is detected in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or...
Overdosage
10 OVERDOSAGE There is no known specific treatment for overdose with APRETUDE. If overdose occurs, monitor the individual and apply standard supportive treatment as required as well as observation of the clinical status of the individual. As APRETUDE is highly bound to plasma proteins, it is unlikely that it will be significantly removed by dialysis. Consider the prolonged exposure to APRETUDE following an injection when assessing treatment needs and recovery [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] .
How Supplied
16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING How Supplied APRETUDE is supplied in a kit containing one 600-mg/3-mL single-dose (200-mg/mL) vial of cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension, 1 syringe, 1 vial adapter, and 1 needle for intramuscular injection (23 gauge, 1½ inch) (NDC 49702-264-23). The vial stopper is not made with natural rubber latex. Storage and Handling Store APRETUDE at 2°C to 25°C (36°F to 77°F) in the original carton until ready to use. Exposure up to 30°C permitted. Do not freeze. Do not mix with any other product or diluent. If the pack has been stored in the refrigerator, the vial should be brought to room temperature prior to administration (not to exceed 30°C [86°F]). 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. The filled syringes should not be placed in the refrigerator. If the medicine remains in the syringe for more than 2 hours, the filled syringe and needle must be discarded [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 )] .
About This Information
This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.
What are side effects?
Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.
What are drug interactions?
Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.