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• In the randomized phase 3b CARES trial among 512 African adults with suppressed HIV-1 on first-line oral therapy, switching to cabotegravir (600 mg) plus rilpivirine (900 mg) long‑acting intramuscular injections every 8 weeks maintained viral suppression (HIV‑1 RNA <50 copies/ml) in 97% at 96 weeks and met prespecified noninferiority vs continued oral therapy (difference -0.4%; 95% CI -3.1% to 2.0%).
• Grade ≥3 adverse events were more frequent in the long‑acting group (16% vs 9%), but most were judged unrelated to study drugs; only one treatment‑related event (injection‑site abscess) led to discontinuation.
