Johannesburg – The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) on Friday announced that it has registered Cabotegravir (Apretude 600 mg/3ml injection), a long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylactic.
Cabotegravir is an antiretroviral drug (ARV) that people living with HIV may use, together with other ARVs, to keep the virus in their bodies from making copies of itself.
“When such medicine is used to prevent HIV infection – that is, if it is taken before exposure to HIV – it is called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and thus plays an important role in preventing HIV infection,” said SAHPRA.
“Apretude 600 mg/3ml injection is the first and only long-acting, injectable PrEP for reducing the risk of getting HIV.
“This drug is a safe and highly effective prevention option for people at substantial risk of HIV infection.”
HIV prevention efforts have stalled, with 1.5 million new HIV infections in 2021, as indicated by the World Health Organization.
Having such options will go a long way in reducing the rate of new infections.
“SAHPRA joins the global fight against this disease. The priority review pathway followed to assess and finally register long-acting Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) marks a bold step in this direction,” said SAHPRA CEO Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela.
