Uganda has made a breakthrough in the HIV pre-exposure treatment research that confirmed the efficacy of the trial injectable Cabotegravir (Cab-LA) HIV prevention drug.
The investigation has been underway in a joint collaboration between Makerere University and John Hopkins University-MHUJU in Uganda and South Africa looking at the possibility of administering the injectable HIV prevention drug to people at risk of contracting the virus since 2021.
Dr. Flavia Matovu Kiweewa, the Lead Researcher at MUJHU-Mulago and Principal Investigator of the project has revealed that the new innovation will avail the option of people that are most at risk of contracting HIV to acquire a single pre-exposure injection that will guard against the virus for six months.
This now confirms the administration of the first dose of the HIV prevention drug Cabotegravir (Cab-LA) as part of the country’s rollout of long-acting HIV prevention options.
The injection is administered in two initial doses, four weeks apart, followed by one dose every eight weeks. Cabotegravir offers a promising alternative to daily oral PrEP, simplifying prevention efforts for those at risk.
Kiweewa emphasizes the new solution will relieve the population from the hardship in use of shorter term HIV prevention solutions like daily drugs among others.
This was during a stakeholders’ engagement on Lenacapavir for HIV prevention at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Wednesday September 18th 2024.
Meanwhile, Dr. Herbert Kadama, the Health Ministry’s Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Coordinator has challenged the general public to know that the injectable Lenacapavir HIV prevention drug is one other innovation that joins other varieties on the market but the public should still take into effect other proven initiatives such as abstinence and being faithful to their partners to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS.
Despite its potential, Uganda currently has limited doses of Cabotegravir, primarily sourced through donations from the US President’s Emergency Plan. The Ministry anticipates the arrival of more doses procured by the Global Fund by February 2025. Currently, 7,500 doses are available, with an additional 3,500 expected.
Cabotegravir, initially costly and inaccessible to countries like Uganda, is now subsidized to about 35 US Dollars per dose, according to Dr. Kadama.
By Charles Katabalwa
18th Sept 2024
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