Zimbabwe is the first country in Africa to okay in...

Zimbabwe is the first country in Africa to okay injectable HIV prevention drug

HIV transmission is set to go further down after the Medicines Authority of Zimbabwe announced approval of preventative injectable drugs in the country.

In a first for Africa, MCAZ approved the long-acting HIV prevention medication earlier this week saying the long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB – LA) is approved as a pre-exposure prophylaxis for adults and adolescents who are at risk of acquiring HIV sexually.

The long-acting PrEP product such as CAB-LA are taken initially as two injections one month apart and then thereafter every two months.

MCAZ told Zim Now that details of accessibility, distribution and cost will soon be released in an official statement.

This offers a better choice for adults and adolescents at substantial HIV risk as versus taking a daily PrEP tablet.

The long-acting formula is a step forward and a valuable addition to the HIV prevention toolbox and will make acceptance and adherence easy due to an element of added discretion over the daily pill.

CAB-LA has only received regulatory approval in two high-income countries.

WHO is working to support the immediate need for delivery globally, UNAIDS is calling for this new drug to quickly be made available and affordable to people who need it most.

CAB-LA's high price makes it inaccessible to the resource-strained communities that need it most.

According to United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS Global and HIV and AIDS statistics, approximately 1.5 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2021with women and girls accounting for 49% of all new infections in the same year.