Fiocruz study confirms effectiveness of injectable HIV prevention

A study conducted by Fiocruz, in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Health, Unitaid, and the World Health Organization (WHO), has demonstrated the high effectiveness and adherence of long-acting injectable PrEP for HIV prevention.

Published in The Lancet HIV, the research tracked 1,201 participants receiving long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) between October 2023 and September 2024. The study focused on men who have sex with men, non-binary individuals, and transgender men and women aged 18 to 30. Results showed a 92% adherence rate to the injection schedule, with protection coverage reaching 90.8% of follow-up days.

The injectable method proved significantly more effective at preventing new infections than oral PrEP. The CAB-LA group recorded only three new HIV infections (a rate of 0.20 per 100 people per year), whereas the group using daily oral pills through the SUS (Unified Health System) saw 18 new infections (a rate of 1.48 per 100 people per year). Additionally, while the injectable group showed high adherence, the persistence rate for oral PrEP users in the SUS was only 35%, highlighting the potential of long-acting injectables to reach populations that struggle with daily medication routines.