A long-acting injection to prevent HIV is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering a major new alternative to daily oral medication.
The treatment, known as cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered every two months and provides pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) for HIV-negative people at risk of infection. It is already available through the NHS in Scotland.
In new draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended CAB-LA for adults and young people who cannot take oral Prep due to medical or practical reasons.
Health secretary Wes Streeting hailed the move as “gamechanging.” He said, “For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope. England aims to be the first country to end HIV transmissions by 2030, and this breakthrough treatment is a powerful step toward that goal.”
Nice estimates that around 1,000 people in England each year could benefit from the new therapy. The rollout is expected to begin about three months after final approval later this year.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, more than 111,000 people accessed Prep in sexual health clinics in England in 2024 — a 7% rise on the previous year.
“HIV remains a serious public health challenge, but we now have powerful tools to prevent new infections,” said Helen Knight, Nice’s director of medicines evaluation. “This long-acting injection offers an effective option for those who cannot take daily pills.”
