Harnie Gold
Member
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has on Monday the 20th of December, 2021, approved Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) for the prevention of sexually transmitted HIV in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (77 pounds).
Apretude, is the world's first injectable medication for reducing the risk of acquiring HIV-1. It is an alternative to the daily use of Truvada and Descovy oral dose for sexually transmitted HIV-1 prevention.
Apretude, unlike Truvada and Descovy, does not require a daily dose oral intake but at the initial stage, people receive two shots at a month interval then, a once in two months shot.
There is also an option of oral formulation of cabotegravir, called Vocabria, for patients which they have to take daily for four weeks before the can start taking the injection to determine the tolerance ability to the drug.
According to Dr. Debra Birnkrant, director of the Division of Antivirals in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, “Today’s approval adds an important tool in the effort to end the HIV epidemic by providing the first option to prevent HIV that does not involve taking a daily pill."
Apretude, was first approved in the USA. Although, according her statement, request have been submitted in countries like Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe for approval.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%, and reduces the risk of infection from injection drug use by at least 74%.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has worked on HIV/AIDS research for decades, have described it as a "major advance."
While speaking on the stumbling block to the prevention of HIV, Dr. Fauci said, "One of the stumbling blocks in our prevention [efforts against HIV] has been the inconsistency or lack of efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis in those who need it the most," Fauci said. "Namely young women, particularly those in southern Africa."
A dose of Apretude cost $3,700 per dose and $22,200 per year for six doses.
Although the cost of getting a dose is high, it gives hope that we are making advancement towards the end of HIV disease.
Apretude, is the world's first injectable medication for reducing the risk of acquiring HIV-1. It is an alternative to the daily use of Truvada and Descovy oral dose for sexually transmitted HIV-1 prevention.
Apretude, unlike Truvada and Descovy, does not require a daily dose oral intake but at the initial stage, people receive two shots at a month interval then, a once in two months shot.
There is also an option of oral formulation of cabotegravir, called Vocabria, for patients which they have to take daily for four weeks before the can start taking the injection to determine the tolerance ability to the drug.
According to Dr. Debra Birnkrant, director of the Division of Antivirals in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, “Today’s approval adds an important tool in the effort to end the HIV epidemic by providing the first option to prevent HIV that does not involve taking a daily pill."
Apretude, was first approved in the USA. Although, according her statement, request have been submitted in countries like Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe for approval.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%, and reduces the risk of infection from injection drug use by at least 74%.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has worked on HIV/AIDS research for decades, have described it as a "major advance."
While speaking on the stumbling block to the prevention of HIV, Dr. Fauci said, "One of the stumbling blocks in our prevention [efforts against HIV] has been the inconsistency or lack of efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis in those who need it the most," Fauci said. "Namely young women, particularly those in southern Africa."
A dose of Apretude cost $3,700 per dose and $22,200 per year for six doses.
Although the cost of getting a dose is high, it gives hope that we are making advancement towards the end of HIV disease.