Anvisa approves the first injectable drug for HIV prevention in Brazil

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved the first injectable drug for the prevention of HIV in Brazil, or Cabotegravir, which will be another option for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP), or suggests, continuous use of antiretroviral drugs for older people contamination risk.

The authorization was given to the company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and was published in the Official Gazette of the Union on June 5.

Currently, the medications available to the public are tablets for oral use. The main difference in relation to the novos is in their prolonged duration, with a reduction in the need for doses.

Basically, an intramuscular injection is applied to the gluteal region, with two initial doses, with an interval of four weeks between them, and one dose every eight weeks. Ou seja, instead of 365 two a year, it would be just six.

According to the information disclosed by GSK in 2020, the effectiveness of the new method would be 69% higher in relation to drugs for oral and daily use. Also, it is expected that, with less frequent doses, the adherence to the treatment will increase for those who use this type of medication.

For more information on efficacy, safety and what to refer to the PReP method, it is possible to access the website of the Ministry of Health.