Retention and Other Efficacy Outcomes With Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (Buvidal®) in France: A National Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study (OPALE 2).

Abstract

Background: Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is the mainstay for opioid use disorder (OUD). Long-acting injectable buprenorphine may address limitations of daily medications by reducing treatment burden and improving engagement. This study assessed retention and patient-reported outcomes with Buvidal^® in France.

Methods: This multicenter, observational, retrospective study analyzed medical records of adults diagnosed with OUD who received ≥1 Buvidal^® injection between July 2021 and August 2023. The primary endpoint was retention at 6 months. Key secondary endpoints included changes in opioid consumption, perceived improvement in OUD using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale, distancing from OUD, reduction in craving, and satisfaction with Buvidal^® treatment.

Results: Among 101 participants (mean age 43.9 years; 72.3% male; 98.0% switched to Buvidal^® from previous OAT), 74 (73.3%) were retained on Buvidal^® at 6 months. Of those using non-prescribed or misused opioids at baseline, decreased consumption of non-prescribed or misused opioids during treatment with Buvidal^® was reported by 80.0% (16/20) of retained participants and 66.7% (8/12) of non-retained participants. A significantly higher proportion of retained than non-retained participants reported improvement in OUD on PGIC (85.1% [63/74] vs 40.7% [11/27]; P < .001), increased distancing from OUD (90.5% [67/74] vs 70.4% [19/27]; P = .02), and reduced craving (91.9% [68/74] vs 66.7% [18/27]; P < .001). Satisfaction with Buvidal^® was high overall (89.1% [90/101]), with 98.6% (73/74) of retained participants satisfied compared with 63.0% (17/27) of non-retained participants (P < .001). Among retained participants, 91.9% (68/74) expressed willingness to continue Buvidal^® treatment beyond 6 months.

Conclusions: Nearly three-quarters of participants initiating Buvidal^® were retained in treatment at 6 months. Patient-reported outcomes indicated high satisfaction, perceived improvement in OUD, and reductions in opioid consumption and craving, even among individuals largely stabilized on OAT at baseline. These findings suggest that Buvidal^® may support sustained engagement and meaningful improvements in patient experience under real-world conditions.