Injectable Drug More Effective For PrEP Than Truvada

The Washington Post reports:

A long-acting drug injected every two months is more effective at preventing HIV than the pills most commonly used by people at risk of acquiring the infection, according to research released Tuesday at an international AIDS conference.

The drug cabotegravir was tested on more than 4,500 cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men in 43 countries. While Truvada, the pill used most often to block the virus, is also highly effective, the injectable drug proved to be even better, the research shows.

Perhaps more important, an injection every two months may allow more people to remain on medication, known as “pre-exposure prophylaxis” or PrEP, that blocks the virus. People whose medical care is inconsistent have trouble remaining on the daily pills.

The injectable is made by Viiv Healthcare. The two daily drugs so far approved for PrEP usage are made by Gilead.