War on Aids gets a boost with the discovery of injectable drug
Lamivudine/Zidovudine, an oral drug used for the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Scientists have come up with the first injectable drug with the potential to prevent new HIV infections. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis brings relief to individuals at high risk of contracting the virus who do not like taking oral pills.
- Currently, only oral pills are available in the country for those at high risk of contracting HIV.
- A study that has gone through two phases has shown that the injectable drug, cabotegravir, is safe and well- tolerated.
- The study focused on 200 HIV-uninfected men and women, 67 men and 133 women, at eight sites globally.
Scientists have come up with the first injectable drug with the potential to prevent new HIV infections.
The injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis brings relief to individuals at high risk of contracting the virus who do not like taking oral pills.
Currently, only oral pills are available in the country for those at high risk of contracting HIV. They are important in cases where one is in a relationship with an HIV-positive partner. They are also vital for those who have unprotected sex with partners of unknown HIV status.
A study that has gone through two phases has shown that the injectable drug, cabotegravir, is safe and well- tolerated.
Dr Martin Markowitz, the managing director of the Aaron Diamond Aids Research Centre in New York City, presented results of the study at the 2016 International Aids Conference in Durban, South Africa, last week.
The objective of the study, conducted by HIV Prevention Trials Network 077, is to learn more about the safety and acceptability of cabotegravir when taken orally and injected into men and women not infected with HIV.
BODY PROCESSES THE DRUG
The study was also carried out to show how the body processes the drug, and individuals’ satisfaction with an injectable, as opposed to the oral version of PrEP.
“A single injection of long-acting cabotegravir may only be needed every month or every few months to provide protection against HIV infection, which could improve adherence as opposed to the oral pills taken twice daily,” said Dr Markowitz.
The product for the study was provided by GlaxoSmithKline on behalf of ViiV Healthcare.
The study focused on 200 HIV-uninfected men and women, 67 men and 133 women, at eight sites globally.
To be included in the study, participants had to be deemed low risk for HIV infection, be at least 18 years old, and be able to provide written informed consent.
“Study participants were randomly placed in two groups. Some 75 per cent of the participants were given pills and injections with cabotegravir in them. The rest were given pills and injections that do not have cabotegravir in them,” said Dr Markowitz.
However, during the study, the participants were encouraged to protect themselves from getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections by using a condom every time they had sex.
