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Drug approval

HIV Prevention Jab Approved for Use in England and Wales: Alternative to Daily Pills

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The first injectable HIV prevention medication, cabotegravir, has been approved for use in England and Wales, offering a long-acting alternative to daily pills. This breakthrough is expected to benefit an estimated 1,000 people at risk of HIV in the region. The injectable drug, administered every two months, has been shown to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by 66% in gay men, bisexual men, and transgender women, and by 88% in cisgender women, compared to daily oral Prep.

Key Takeaways:

  • The injectable HIV prevention medication, cabotegravir, has been approved for use in England and Wales, offering a long-acting alternative to daily pills for those at risk of HIV.
  • The medication is administered every two months by a trained health professional, ensuring that the drug is delivered correctly into the muscle.
  • Injectable cabotegravir has been found to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by 66% in gay men, bisexual men, and transgender women, and by 88% in cisgender women, compared to daily oral Prep.
  • Current guidelines recommend cabotegravir for those who cannot use oral Prep effectively, including those with health conditions, difficulty swallowing tablets, or those who are unable to adhere to oral Prep for social or personal reasons.
  • Research shows that there is a strong preference for injectable Prep among people at risk of HIV, due to its convenience and reduced pill burden.
  • The approval of cabotegravir may pave the way for other forms of injectable Prep with longer durations, such as lenacapavir, which requires only six-monthly injections.
  • Delivering Prep outside of traditional sexual health settings, such as in community pharmacies and GP practices, could also contribute to equitable access.
  • By increasing the numbers of people who can use Prep, injectables offer a critical new tool for achieving the government's goal of eliminating new HIV infections by 2030.

Statistics:

  • Estimated 1,000 people at risk of HIV in England and Wales who will benefit from the injectable HIV prevention medication, cabotegravir.
  • 66% reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV in gay men, bisexual men, and transgender women, compared to daily oral Prep.
  • 88% reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV in cisgender women, compared to daily oral Prep.
  • 3% of current Prep users are women, but 35% of new HIV diagnoses are women, highlighting issues around inequitable access to Prep.
  • 6-monthly injections for lenacapavir, a form of injectable Prep that has been shown to be highly effective.

Sources:

  • ViiV Healthcare
  • Gilead Sciences
  • MSD
  • Sophia Forum
  • HIV prevention jab approved for use in England and Wales -- here's how it works -- https://theconversation.com/hiv-prevention-jab-approved-for-use-in-england-and-wales-heres-how-it-works-268037

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