Key Summary
- England and Wales approve HIV-prevention jab cabotegravir (CAB-LA)
- The two-month injection helps people who can’t take daily PrEP
- Experts call it a key step toward ending HIV by 2030
NHS England and Wales joins Scotland in HIV prevention through the approval of cabotegravir (CAB-LA) injections.
The new preventative therapy, given every two months, will be provided at sexual health clinics across the country.
Around 1,000 patients, who are unable to have oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), will benefit from this new injection.
As per the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), cabotegravir is an effective solution for adults and youngsters with a healthy weight who face the risk of HIV infection.
PrEP, whether oral or injectable, works by preventing HIV taking hold in the body if someone is exposed to the virus. It is close to 100 percent effective at preventing HIV transmission.
The aim of HIV treatment is to suppress the virus particles in the blood, known as the viral load, to ‘undetectable levels’ so low that it cannot be detected by laboratory tests, meaning it is no longer attacking the immune system and cannot be transmitted to sexual partners.
HIV is a globally concerning viral infection that damages the cells in the immune system and weakens the body's ability to fight everyday infections and diseases.
The NHS in England aims to become the first country in the world to end HIV transmissions by 2030.
The UK Health Security Agency’s latest 2024 HIV surveillance report shows some progress in ending HIV transmission, with new diagnoses dropping 4 percent nationwide - from 3,169 in 2023 to 3,043 this year.
Experts opine that the timely reception of the jab, along with safe sex practices could efficiently fight the infection.
As per the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), cabotegravir is an effective solution for adults and youngsters with a healthy weight who face the risk of HIV infection.
“Around 1,000 people in England cannot have daily oral PrEP due to medical contraindications or other barriers which is why this injection offers an effective option for this community,” commented Helen Knight, the director of medicines evaluation at NICE.
The rollout is set to start about three months after NICE releases its final guidance this year.
According to UKHSA, over 111,000 people accessed PrEP at sexual health clinics in England in 2024, a 7 per cent jump from the previous year.
“For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope,” said health secretary, Wes Streeting as he called the new jab “game-changing”.
“We’re making real progress on HIV, with PrEP use up by 8 per cent this year, and our ambition goes even further.”
Dr Will Nutland, executive director of PrEPster at The Love Tank, said, “Oral PrEP has been the only option for those of us using PrEP for HIV prevention until now. The introduction of injectable PrEP provides an option for people who want to use PrEP but cannot use the tablet formulations. Adding more PrEP options makes it accessible to the widest number of people.”
NICE says people will be able to get the injections at NHS sexual health clinics in the coming months, after approving the treatment for NHS use.
