Injectable, Long-Acting PrEP Could Be Available in Early 2022

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, has already been huge for HIV prevention, as a once-a-day medication that significantly decreases one’s chance of transmitting HIV. Now, according to a 2021 CDC update of its PrEP clinical practice guidelines, injectable, long-acting PrEP could be a reality as soon as the beginning of next year.

The 108-page document was released last week and has several major updates, including a section on cabotegravir (CAB), a form of PrEP that would be prescribed as a bimonthly (every two months) injection, pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Should the FDA approve CAB, the CDC will recommend CAB for all sexually active adults who report engaging in sexual behavior that put them at “substantial ongoing risk of HIV exposure and acquisition.”

The CDC is also now recommending providers inform all sexually active adults and adolescents about PrEp, regardless of whether or not those patients report behaviors increasing their risk to HIV exposure.

A press release elaborates, “We hope these efforts will continue to increase awareness of PrEP and help overcome embarrassment or anticipated stigmatizing reactions that may prevent some people from sharing HIV risk behaviors with their healthcare provider.”

The CDC is also recommending F/TAF, or Descovy, an FDA-approved PrEP option for sexually active cis men and trans women. It was approved in late 2019, when the CDC began updating guidelines around PrEP, though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the development of these guidelines. Cis women and trans men are still not approved for Descovy because there have been no clinical trials conducted to determine efficacy in those populations.

CAB would be a substantial change in relation to the current, daily model, and if the process was simplified to every other month, with medical providers recommending it to all sexually active adults, not just those who are “high risk,” it’s possible more of the general population would take PrEP regularly.

Photo courtesy of ViiV Healthcare