A new injection to prevent HIV has shown to be more effective in women than taking the daily pill. The results were so impressive in fact, that an independent data safety monitoring board approved for trials to end early, according to The New York Times.
What We Know:
- The shot, called Cabotegravir, was developed by ViiV Healthcare, who is owned by GlaxoSmithKline, along with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited. Tests were conducted in comparison with the pill Truvada, developed by Gilead Sciences. Prior to the shot’s development, Truvada was the only available option for women to protect themselves from HIV.
- Cabotegravir proved to be 89% more effective in women than the pill, which would have to be taken once every day, compared to the shot, which entails taking one dose every two months. This is important because it allows women to be more discreet with their HIV prevention and allows for significantly fewer missed doses. Women accounted for about half of all new HIV infections in 2019, according to UNAIDS. They also report that in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the trails were conducted, five in six new infections are among female adolescents ages 15 to 19; putting them at a higher risk than men in contracting HIV.
- The shot also showed to be 66% more effective in cisgender men and transgender women. Additionally, the injection does not require refrigeration, meaning it can be administered on mobile clinics, or can be combined with contraceptive injections.
- Despite the incredible results shown by the injection, the risks of missing a dose are much higher than those of the pill. Because low amounts of the drug remain in the body for a for some time after injection, there is a higher risk of contracting a drug-resisting virus in those who skip the injection than there is with a quickly dissipating pill.
The groundbreaking results of the clinical trials for Cabotegravir mark an important milestone for HIV prevention and treatment. The next step, is making sure the drug is affordable and available for those who need it, especially people in developing countries.
