The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first injectable prevention medication for HIV, offering an alternative to pre-exposure preventative tablets.
The new drug, Apretude, is administered to patients every two months via injection. In contrast, pills already on the market can prevent the risk of contracting HIV by 99% if taken daily.
“Today’s approval adds an important tool in the effort to end the HIV epidemic by providing the first option to prevent HIV that does not involve taking a daily pill,” Dr. Debra Birnkrant, director of the antivirals division at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in Monday’s announcement.
Health officials have warned daily pills can be a regimen that is difficult for some to stick to, making injections a more viable option to at-risk populations, and potentially increasing those taking prevention medication.
Great news! @US_FDA approves long-acting cabotegravir injections — brand name Apretude — for #HIV prevention. More options will hopefully mean more people at risk for HIV will start and stay on #PrEP. @pozmagazine @ViiVUS @ViiVHC https://t.co/1sMj4FIQN5
— Liz Highleyman (@LizHighleyman) December 20, 2021
Adherence is a problem for at-risk people who are poor, depressed & who face stigma, so FDA recommends that cabotegravir #PrEP be targeted to these groups.
But I've talked with lot of people in these communities who say researchers are short-sighted. eg https://t.co/FTljqop195