advantages. Considering that medication adherence is the biggest challenge in controlling HIV disease, with Truvada and Descovy, we are asking people to take medicine every day who don’t have any disease. They are taking medicines to prevent HIV infection. Injectable cabotegravir requires an injection in the buttocks every two months.
Cabotegravir is a drug in the integrase inhibitor class, the most potent HIV drugs in use. Injectable cabotegravir was approved for HIV treatment earlier this year, in combination with injectable rilpivirine, a product called Cabanuva (see “The future is now! The first long-acting treatment for HIV has been approved” April 4, 2021 in the HIV/AIDS section).
In an article posted on November 20, 2020, I reported on the results of a large clinical trial that compared the effects of Truvada and injectable cabotegravir in preventing HIV infection in young African women, a group at high risk for HIV infection (”Breaking News: Long-acting drug prevents women from HIV-infection”).
While the Truvada reduced the risk of HIV infection by an impressive degree, the cabotegravir reduced risk even more, and demonstrated high levels of safety and acceptability.
Using a product that was injected every two months significantly reduced the stigma around taking HIV medicines for protection from HIV.
Study participants didn’t have to worry about missing a dose now and then (however, they do have to receive their injections on time). The treatment was demonstrated to be effective in protecting men before the success in women was shown.
People in the US now have a powerful tool for protecting themselves from HIV infection through sex or intravenous drug use (sharing needles). It is hoped that this product will also be available to help in the fight against AIDS in developing countries with limited resources.