The approval of a groundbreaking HIV-prevention treatment is imminent for England and Wales. Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) is an injectable administered every two months to lower the risk of infection in HIV-negative adults and young individuals, serving as an alternative to daily pills. Some individuals at risk are unable to take the tablets, known as PrEP, due to medical or other reasons. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended CAB-LA for use in draft guidance released on Friday. This marks the first injectable PrEP option and the initial PrEP medicine approved by Nice.
The availability of CAB-LA is anticipated approximately three months after the publication of Nice’s final guidance later this year. Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed that the approval of the injection is a game-changer. For vulnerable populations who cannot utilize other HIV prevention methods, the injection brings hope. Streeting emphasized the ongoing progress in HIV prevention, with an 8% increase in PrEP usage this year. The ultimate goal is for England to become the first country to eliminate HIV transmissions by 2030, and the introduction of this groundbreaking treatment serves as a significant step towards achieving that objective.
In the previous year, over 111,000 individuals accessed PrEP in sexual health clinics in England, indicating a 7% rise from the year before, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, highlighted that HIV continues to pose a significant public health challenge, but effective tools are now available to prevent new infections. Approximately 1,000 individuals in England cannot take daily oral PrEP due to medical contraindications or other obstacles, making the injection a valuable option for this group. Nice estimates that a similar number of individuals in England will benefit from the new treatment annually.
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