The Ask Us Europe survey, led by an academic team in London, and supported by ViiV Healthcare, found 81% of respondents living with HIV recalled having a treatment review, but only 45% had discussed long-acting injectable Vocabria and Rekambys
 
93% of respondents expressed interest in future long-acting treatment options, with greatest interest in injectable options dosed two or three times a year
 
London, 29 July 2026 – ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Shionogi as a shareholder, today announced new data revealing a gap between interest in long-acting HIV treatment options and the conversations taking place in clinics. The data also highlight inequities in whether long-acting treatment is being discussed during consultations across different demographic groups of people living with HIV in Europe. These findings highlight the need for more proactive, equitable care that ensures people can access options aligned to their needs and preferences.
 
The data come from Ask Us Europe, a community co-produced online survey of more than 1,900 people living with HIV across 18 European countries. Results were presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
 
Professor Chloe Orkin, Director of the SHARE Research Collaborative at Queen Mary University of London and Principal Investigator of the Ask Us Europe study, said: "Designing the study with people living with HIV across Europe, the Ask Us Europe study has allowed lived experience to shape the questions we ask and the solutions we recommend. These findings show that many people who could benefit from long-acting treatment are not having these conversations with their healthcare providers, and eligibility alone does not guarantee access. Proactive, open dialogue, and shared decision-making, are essential to ensure people can access the care that is right for them."
 
Long-acting HIV treatment conversations are not reaching everyone equally
 
An equity analysis from the survey showed conversations about long-acting injectable Vocabria + Rekambys (cabotegravir + rilpivirine (CAB+RPV LA)) and treatment review discussions varied across social and demographic groups, including by age, ethnicity, education and time since diagnosis.1
 

Among participants who had had a treatment optimisation discussion with their healthcare provider (81% (n=1549/1911)), only 45% (n=558/1246) reported that they had discussed CAB+RPV LA.
 
19% (n=362/1911) of respondents said they did not ever recall having a treatment review discussion.
 
Respondents aged over 55 years were less likely to have discussed CAB+RPV LA with their healthcare provider than those under the age of 55.
 
These findings show the need for more proactive and equitable conversations in clinic, so people living with HIV can understand the treatment options available to them.
 

Jean van Wyk, MBChB, MFPM, Chief Medical Officer, said: "The Ask Us Europe study shows why community-led research is essential to improving care. By involving people living with HIV and translating their experiences into real-world evidence, these findings highlight a clear gap between the treatment options people want and the conversations they are having with their clinicians. At ViiV Healthcare, we are committed to supporting clinical academic partners and the HIV community to help close that gap, so open dialogue and shared decision-making become part of everyday HIV care."
 
Strong interest in long-acting HIV treatment options
 
Further data from the survey revealed strong interest in CAB+RPV LA and potential future long-acting HIV treatment options, with greatest interest in future injectables dosed two or three times a year.2
 
93% (n=1,656/1,782) of respondents expressed interest in future long-acting treatment modalities, with the highest interest in injectables dosed two or three times a year (77% (n=1,371).
 
68% (n=1,207) expressed interest in monthly orals, and 56% (n=1,000) in weekly orals, while implants (40% (n=721)) and patches (34% (n=604)) were the least favoured. Among those who had ever received CAB+RPV LA, 89% (n=250/282) were interested in future long-acting injectables dosed two or three times a year, while only 20% (n=56) expressed interest in weekly oral options.
 
These findings underscore the importance of developing a range of treatment options that reflect different preferences and needs of people living with HIV.
 
Unmet needs among transgender, non-binary and gender diverse respondents
 
In a sub-analysis of the survey, transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people living with HIV (n=162) reported greater unmet social support needs and higher interest in CAB+RPV LA compared to cisgender respondents.3
 

Transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse respondents were more likely to have complex support needs than cisgender respondents (60% (n=97/162) vs 47% (n=809/1,724)), including domestic violence services, drug and alcohol support, meal and foodbank access, and peer support. Transgender people also had higher levels of complex support needs that were unmet compared to cisgender people.
 
14% (n=23/162) had ever received CAB+RPV LA. Among those not receiving CAB+RPV LA (n=139), 65% of transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse respondents were interested in it.4 Interest in CAB+RPV LA among transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse respondents was driven primarily by adherence concerns, accidental HIV status disclosure, and polypharmacy.
 
Transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse respondents were also more likely to report missed doses including missing a dose by mistake (40% vs 22%) and not taking pills for more than three days (11% vs 5%).
 
These findings highlight the need for HIV care that combines innovation with additional social and clinical support to help improve adherence, quality of life and wellbeing in diverse populations. --

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