Lenacapavir Use in France: A National, Observational Study (LENAddOn).

BACKGROUND

The LENAddOn study aimed to characterize people with HIV (PWH) initiating injectable lenacapavir (LEN) post-early access program in France, assess LEN continuation rates at W26 and W52, and describe reasons for LEN discontinuation.

METHODS

Observational, retrospective study across 19 centers, including people with HIV-1 who initiated LEN between 20 June 2023 and 30 June 2024. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted from medical records. The primary outcome was the proportion of PWH receiving a second and third set of LEN injections at W26 and W52.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven PWH were included (median age, 57 years [IQR, 44-63]; duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART), 25 years [17-29]), with a history of frequent adherence issues and vulnerability factors. At LEN initiation, 22 (28.6%) had a plasma HIV-1 viral load (pVL) ≥200 copies/mL, and 43 (55.8%) had a pVL <50 copies/mL; 42 (54.6%) had viral resistance to ≥2 drugs in ≥3 classes. Twenty-one participants (27.3%) received injectable ART associating LEN plus cabotegravir ± rilpivirine. Lenacapavir continuation rate was 94.8% (95% CI, 87.2-98.6) at W26 and 81.8% (71.4-89.7) at W52, with 4 LEN discontinuations between D0 and W26 and 10 between W26 and W52. Main reasons for LEN discontinuation were death unrelated to LEN/lost-to-follow-up (n = 5), persistence of viral replication (n = 3), and injection site reactions (n = 2). Last measured pVL during the study period was <200 cp/mL in 72/77 participants (93.5%) and <50 cp/mL in 61/77 (79.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Lenacapavir use allowed simplification of antiretroviral regimens, with the maintenance or achievement of virological suppression. Continuation of LEN at W26 and W52 remained high among a population with extensive treatment history.