The HIV drug caboteravir protects only women from new infections

What You Should Know About Caboteravir’s New HIV Drug That Protects Women From New Infections

This is good news for women around the world, and especially in Zimbabwe, as a newly discovered drug has been found to protect them from contracting HIV / AIDS for two months, longer than regular PrEP.

A new injectable drug called Caboteravir can now be used once every 2 months in women after researchers in Africa found the drug to be nearly 90% effective than standard pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV / AIDS.

Researchers from the HIV Prevention Trials Network announced the landmark achievement on Monday after conducting their study known as HPTN 084 in seven African countries, including Zimbabwe.

The study was jointly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, Inc.

They claim that the drug is “safe and superior”, hence the need to stop trials as soon as possible “in the public interest”.

“The results are incredibly important for women in Africa, where reducing the incidence of HIV remains a priority.

We know that adherence to a daily pill remains a challenge, and an effective injectable product like long-acting cabotegravir is a very important additional HIV prevention option for them, ”said Research Professor Dr. Sinead Delany-Moretlwe from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg who led the study.

Talking about why the drug was designed specifically for women, not men, the study claims that women in Africa experience a higher incidence of HIV than men.

From now on, more effective and women-friendly HIV prevention options are needed.

A long-lasting HIV prevention product is indeed a much better and reliable offer that is needed in the fight against HIV in Africa.

But so does a condom. The study researchers continue to promote the safe use of condoms for the prevention of other sex-related infections.

MORE ABOUT IHARARE