New drugs may protect girls having sex with older men from HIV

New drugs for pre-exposure prophylactic (prep) could slow the HIV epidemic in Africa caused by relationships between young women and older men. Efforts to change the behavior of young women and older men have mostly failed.

March 24, 2023 . 10:27 AM

1 min read

New drugs for pre-exposure prophylactic (prep) could slow the HIV epidemic in Africa caused by relationships between young women and older men.
Efforts to change the behavior of young women and older men have mostly failed.
Three prep methods that could prevent girls and young women from becoming infected are a vaginal ring, a daily pill, and an injection every second month.
The most promising option is an injectable form of prep containing cabotegravir, which is nearly 90% more effective than oral prep.
Modelling shows that the introduction of injectable cabotegravir in sub-Saharan Africa could almost double uptake of prep to 46% of those who need it.