The world of HIV Prevention scored a major victory to end the year and it’s hard not to suspect that Santa Claus may have had a role in delivering this gift; well, maybe not Santa but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should get credit. Injectable Cabotegravir, a product named Apretude was approved for HIV prevention (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP) on December 20th. This makes it the third medication approved for HIV prevention in the US and it is likely to provide the best protection so far.
Two drugs were previously approved for PrEP in the US: Truvada is a combination pill containing Tenofovir and Emtricitabine (FTC). It is available even in low-income countries. It is highly effective at preventing HIV transmission when taken as prescribed, which is usually every day. In some circumstances, it may be dosed around the time of a sex act (on-demand PrEP).
Descovy is a combination product similar to Truvada, but it has a form of Tenofovir (Tenofovir alafenamide) that reaches higher levels in the tissues than tenofovir. It may be slightly more effective than Truvada. It is currently only approved for use in men. Truvada can be used in anyone.
Again, both Truvada and Descovy must be taken as prescribed to be effective. This is where injectable Cabotegravir for PrEP may offer