HIV injections outperform daily pills in African adolescent trial

A clinical trial involving 476 adolescents across Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe has found that eight-weekly HIV injections are more effective at suppressing the virus than daily oral tablets. The LATA (Long-Acting Treatment in Adolescents) trial, led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and published in The Lancet, demonstrated that only 1% of participants receiving the injectable treatment experienced viral rebound after 96 weeks, compared to 6% of those on daily tablets.

The injectable regimen utilized cabotegravir and rilpivirine. Beyond clinical efficacy, the study highlighted significant improvements in patient preference; 94% of participants reported that receiving treatment every eight weeks was much easier than daily medication. Researchers noted that long-acting injectables may help mitigate the stigma and bullying often associated with daily pill consumption among young people.