Brazil's SUS may adopt long-acting HIV prevention injectable

Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) may soon incorporate a long-acting injectable PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV prevention. The medication, cabotegravir, is produced by the pharmaceutical company GSK.

While official estimates suggest the drug could arrive in the second half of 2026, GSK officials indicated that if a positive recommendation is received from Conitec (the Ministry of Health's technical commission) in October, they will attempt to make the medication available as early as this year. The drug has already been approved by Anvisa for three years.

Unlike current daily oral PrEP pills used by over 150,000 people in Brazil, this injectable version offers protection that lasts for two months. The administration schedule involves monthly injections for the first two months, followed by doses every two months. Clinical studies indicate a protection rate exceeding 99%.