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Sourced from Drugbank

Cabotegravir Ultra Long-Acting (CAB-ULA)


Developer(s)

ViiV Healthcare

Originator
https://viivhealthcare.com/

United Kingdom

ViiV Healthcare is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the development of therapies for HIV infection. The company is headquartered in Brentford in the United Kingdom and was initially formed in November 2009 as a part of a joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer.


Drug structure

Cabotegravir Chemical Structure

Cabotegravir Chemical Structure

Sourced from Drugbank


Drug information

Associated long-acting platforms

Aqueous drug particle suspension

Administration route

Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, To be determined

Therapeutic area(s)

HIV

Use case(s)

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Treatment

Use of drug

Ease of administration

Administered by a community health worker
Administered by a nurse
Administered by a specialty health worker

User acceptance

Not provided

Dosage

Available dose and strength

Formulation is in clinical development but not yet approved or commercially available. Pharmacokinetic simulations predict that a 1600 mg/3mL IM dose would be sufficient for a Q4M dosing schedule.

Frequency of administration

Once every four months (Q4M)

Maximum dose

1600 mg (2.7x CAB-LA)

Recommended dosing regimen

Phase I trial evaluating safety and pharmacokinetic profile used doses at 800 mg, 1200 mg, and 1600 mg at four monthly intervals.

Additional comments

Not provided

Dosage link(s)

Not provided


Drug information

Drug's link(s)

https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB11751

Generic name

Cabotegravir Ultra Long-Acting (CAB-ULA), Cabotegravir Once Four-Monthly (CAB Q4M)

Brand name

Not provided

Compound type

Small molecule

Summary

Cabotegravir ultra long-acting (CAB-ULA) is an investigational injectable formulation that exhibits potential as extended-interval HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment. A Phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study assessed CAB-ULA's pharmacokinetics and safety in healthy adults compared to the standard 200mg/mL long-acting injectable cabotegravir formulation (CAB-LA). The maximum observed plasma concentration of CAB-ULA, regardless of route of administration, was lower than intramuscular (IM) CAB-LA at the same dose level, indicating slower absorption of CAB-ULA and the potential for four-monthly (Q4M) dosing. The projected half-life of subcutaneous CAB-ULA and IM CAB-ULA was six times greater and two times greater, respectively, than the half-life of IM CAB-LA.

Approval status

CAB-ULA is not approved in any jurisdiction. ViiV Healthcare is currently conducting a registrational study of CAB-ULA that began in 2024 to further evaluate its use for HIV PrEP in adults. Future areas of study will include its potential use in combination with other medicines as a complete, ultra long-acting HIV treatment regimen. The 1st Half (Interim period) of Fiscal 2024 Financial Results Report (Page 31) from Shionogi indicated a preliminary 2026 file and launch date for single-agent CAB-ULA PrEP, and in combination with Rilpivirine for HIV treatment in 2027.

Regulatory authorities

Successful development of ultra long-acting formulations (e.g. CAB-ULA) may extend the patent protection period for cabotegravir for new LA medicines, formulations and regimens.

Delivery device(s)

No delivery device


Scale-up and manufacturing prospects

Scale-up prospects

CAB-ULA is a novel formulation developed by ViiV Healthcare that doubles the concentration of cabotegravir, exhibits favourable tolerability and safety, with a PK profile that supports dose intervals of ≥4 months. Detailed manufacturing information regarding the new CAB-ULA formulation is not yet available.

Tentative equipment list for manufacturing

Not provided

Manufacturing

Not provided

Specific analytical instrument required for characterization of formulation

Not provided


Clinical trials

219230

Identifier

NCT06741397

Link

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06741397

Phase

Phase II

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

ViiV Healthcare

More details

This study will evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of a new formulation of Cabotegravir (CAB) dosed every 4-months (Q4M) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in participants at risk of HIV-1 acquisition.

Purpose

A Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of a New Formulation of Cabotegravir Long-Acting Administered Intramuscularly in a 4-month Dosing Interval (Q4M)

Interventions

Intervention 1

Drug: CAB LA administered IM gluteal

Intervention 2

Drug: New formulation of CAB LA administered IM gluteal

Countries

Puerto Rico
United States of America

Sites / Institutions

Not provided

Trials dates

Anticipated Start Date
Not provided

Actual Start Date
2024-12-20

Anticipated Date of Last Follow-up
2025-02-17

Estimated Primary Completion Date
2026-09-22

Estimated Completion Date
2028-12-28

Actual Primary Completion Date
Not provided

Actual Completion Date
Not provided

Studied populations

Age Cohort

  • Children
  • Adults
  • Older Adults

Genders

  • All

Accepts pregnant individuals
No

Accepts lactating individuals
No

Accepts healthy individuals
Yes

Comments about the studied populations

Inclusion Criteria: 1. At the time of obtaining informed consent, adolescent and adult participants weighing at least 35 kg. 2. Participants must have a nonreactive HIV test at Screening (rapid test, nonrapid HIV immunoassay, and HIV RNA) and enrollment (a rapid test, nonrapid HIV immunoassay, and HIV RNA). 3. Participants who are at risk of acquiring HIV, defined as having had anal or vaginal sex in the past 6 months. 4. Participants who are overtly healthy as determined by medical evaluation by a responsible and experienced physician, including medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests and cardiac monitoring at the time of screening. 5. No alcohol or substance use that, in the opinion of the study investigator and medical monitor, would interfere with the study.

Health status

Negative to : HIV, HBV
Considered high risk to :

Study type

Interventional (clinical trial)

Enrollment

200

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention model

Single group assignment

Intervention model description

Not provided

Masking

Open label

Masking description

This is an open label study.

Frequency of administration

Other(s) : "Once Every Four Months "

Studied LA-formulation(s)

Injectable

Studied route(s) of administration

Intramuscular

Use case

PrEP

Key results

Not provided

223369

Identifier

NCT06786520

Link

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06786520

Phase

Phase I

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

ViiV Healthcare

More details

This study will assess the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of CAB ULA administered every 4 months (Q4M) following administration of CAB LA every 2 months (Q2M), in healthy adult volunteers.

Purpose

A Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Cabotegravir Ultra Long-acting (CAB ULA) Following Switch From Cabotegravir Long-acting (CAB LA) in Healthy Adults

Interventions

Intervention 1

Drug: CAB LA

Intervention 2

Drug: CAB ULA
Dosage: 800 mg, 1200 mg, and 1600 mg

Countries

United States of America

Sites / Institutions

Not provided

Trials dates

Anticipated Start Date
Not provided

Actual Start Date
2025-01-17

Anticipated Date of Last Follow-up
2025-02-17

Estimated Primary Completion Date
2027-02-17

Estimated Completion Date
2028-02-29

Actual Primary Completion Date
Not provided

Actual Completion Date
Not provided

Studied populations

Age Cohort

  • Adults
  • Older Adults

Genders

  • All

Accepts pregnant individuals
No

Accepts lactating individuals
No

Accepts healthy individuals
Yes

Comments about the studied populations

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult participants greater than or equal to (\>=) 18 years old, weighing at least 35 kg. * Participants who are overtly healthy as determined by medical evaluation. * Assigned male sex at birth or assigned female sex at birth. Participants assigned female sex at birth are eligible to participate if they are of non-childbearing potential, or if they are of childbearing potential and are not pregnant (confirmed by test), not breastfeeding, and are using a highly effective contraceptive method. * Capable of giving written informed consent.

Health status

Negative to : HIV, HBV, HCV
Considered at low risk of : HIV

Study type

Interventional (clinical trial)

Enrollment

60

Allocation

Not provided

Intervention model

Single group assignment

Intervention model description

Not provided

Masking

Open label

Masking description

None (Open Label)

Frequency of administration

Other(s) : "Once Every Four Months "

Studied LA-formulation(s)

Injectable

Studied route(s) of administration

Subcutaneous
Intramuscular

Use case

PrEP

Key results

Not provided

Excipients

Proprietary excipients used

Not provided

Novel excipients or existing excipients at a concentration above Inactive Ingredients Database (IID) for the specified route of administration

Not provided

Residual solvents used

Not provided


Patent info

There are either no relevant patents or these were not yet submitted to LAPaL


Supporting material

Publications

There are no publication

Additional documents

No documents were uploaded


Access principles

Collaborate for development

Consider on a case by case basis, collaborating on developing long acting products with potential significant public health impact, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), utilising the referred to long-acting technology

Not provided

Share technical information for match-making assessment

Provide necessary technical information to a potential partner, under confidentiality agreement, to enable preliminary assessment of whether specific medicines of public health importance in LMICs might be compatible with the referred to long-acting technology to achieve a public health benefit

Not provided

Work with MPP to expand access in LMICs

In the event that a product using the referred to long-acting technology is successfully developed, the technology IP holder(s) will work with the Medicines Patent Pool towards putting in place the most appropriate strategy for timely and affordable access in low and middle-income countries, including through licensing

Not provided


Comment & Information

Not provided