Techonology and Science17 October, 20252 min read
England and Wales Approve First Long-Acting HIV Prevention Injection to Replace Daily Pills
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Cabotegravir injection prevents HIV and is administered every two months. The injection offers an alternative to daily oral PrEP pills for HIV prevention.
5 outlets told this the same way.
New HIV Prevention Approval
England and Wales have approved the first use of cabotegravir (CAB‑LA), a long‑acting HIV prevention injection offered as an alternative to daily oral PrEP. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the decision “gamechanging.” Officials expect rollout roughly three months after final guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is published later this year.
“The UK health secretary, Wes Streeting, described the recent approval of a new HIV injection as ‘gamechanging,’ offering hope for vulnerable individuals who cannot use other HIV prevention methods.”
Policymakers present the injection as a key tool to help meet the UK’s 2030 target to end new HIV infections. The injection offers hope to vulnerable people who have struggled with existing prevention options.
New HIV Prevention Option
The new option, administered every two months, is aimed at people who struggle with or cannot use daily PrEP tablets. NICE has recommended CAB‑LA for adults and young people at risk of HIV who cannot take oral PrEP. The NHS in England and Wales will now offer CAB‑LA, bringing policy in line with Scotland.
Beyond medical contraindications, officials note some find daily pills difficult due to access, practicality, or privacy concerns. For roughly 1,000 people who cannot take daily oral PrEP for medical reasons, CAB‑LA is presented as an effective alternative.
New Injectable HIV Prevention
Rollout is expected to begin about three months after NICE’s final guidance, with CAB‑LA given every other month (six times a year). Advocates and officials say the injectable option can be more convenient and discreet than daily pills, supporting prevention efforts. It comes amid growing uptake of PrEP overall, with an 8% increase this year and more than 111,000 people accessing PrEP in England in 2024, according to national reporting.
“The rollout is expected to begin about three months after NICE's final guidance is published later this year.”
UK HIV Prevention Advances
Strategically, the move aligns England and Wales with Scotland’s existing approach while signaling a broader shift toward long‑acting HIV prevention tools. BBC also reports early results for lenacapavir, suggesting a potential annual prevention jab in future.
The Guardian ties CAB‑LA to the ambition of making the UK the first country to end HIV transmission by 2030. Local coverage emphasizes immediate regional impact and ministerial support, reflecting how the decision is positioned to provide a convenient, discreet option that supports prevention and saves lives.
