New Injectable Form of Cabotegravir Drug To Prevent HIV

An injectable form of Cabotegravir drug is found to be a long-acting an effective drug for preventing HIV transmission.

Highlights

Injectable form of cabotegravir drug is being tested to prevent HIV transmission.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug when taken daily can be difficult for some people.
Cabotegravir drug is found to be long-acting and effective when taken once every eight weeks.

The first human clinical trials for an injectable form of cabotegravir drug is being tested to prevent the transmission of HIV virus.

The injectable form of the drug is found to be long-acting when compared to the daily PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) regimen.

AIDS/HIV - Prevention And Transmission
Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about the prevention for AIDS/HIV

‘Injectable form of Cabotegravir drug can be taken once every eight weeks to prevent HIV’

The injection is administered once every eight weeks and is found to be effective when compared to a once daily pill called Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).

The research study was conducted on 4500 men who have sex with men, and transgender women who have sex with men. The people who took part in the study were above the age of 18years and were at a higher risk of HIV infections. They were from eight different countries including America, Asia and Africa.

The research team investigated the effect of cabotegravir injection in HIV prevention when compared to the oral form of Truvada.

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Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said, “We urgently need more HIV prevention tools that fit easily into people’s lives.”

“Although daily oral Truvada clearly works for HIV prevention, taking a daily pill while feeling healthy can be difficult for some people.

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Scientists used a combination of cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging to reveal exactly what this part of the immature form of HIV looks like in 3D.

“If proven effective, injectable cabotegravir has the potential to become an acceptable, discreet and convenient alternative for HIV prevention.”

According to the News Medical Life Sciences, the results of the drug trial are not expected to be known for atleast five years. However, if found to be successful, the drug will be effective to be taken once every eight weeks.

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The speed at which a new antiretroviral drug, Dolutegravir, is able to reduce the viral load in semen has been evaluated by researchers.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus which causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
People who are at a high risk of HIV take PrEP medicines everyday to lower their chances of getting the infection.

A combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine is taken as a single pill daily under the name Truvada to prevent transmission of HIV.

References

PrEP - (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html)

Source-Medindia