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In the HIV trial, researchers compared the injectable drug with Truvada, the existing PrEP tablet made by Gilead, in 3,223 participants from seven sub-Saharan African countries.
Of the women who received Truvada during the randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 24 developed HIV, compared with only four women who took cabotegravir. Two of these women stopped receiving the injection during the study.
The results have been welcomed by experts as a potential route to help stop the HIV / AIDS pandemic. While there have been great strides in fighting the disease over the past 20 years, progress has stalled more recently, especially among women.
In 2019, women and girls accounted for about half of all new HIV infections, according to UNAIDS, while five out of six new cases among 15-19 year olds in sub-Saharan Africa were among girls.
“Women need more effective options for HIV prevention,” said Kimberly Smith, director of research and development at ViiV Healthcare, which makes the new drug. “If approved, long-acting cabotegravir will provide an option that will reduce the number of annual dosing days from 365 to six.
“Furthermore, long-acting cabotegravir can be administered discreetly and can empower women to reduce their risk of contracting HIV without negotiating with their sexual partner,” she added.
Aid groups have previously said that many women struggled to take Truvada every day, while the starting prices were too high for many.
The new injection does not need to be refrigerated, making it easier for mobile clinics and community centers to offer it, potentially alongside injectable contraception. But women will need access to cabotegravir, which is administered by healthcare workers, every eight weeks, and the price is still unclear.
