SAHPRA registers new long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis 

Cabotegravir (Apretude 600mg/3ml injection), a long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylactic, was registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in December.

Cabotegravir is an antiretroviral drug (ARV), which people living with HIV may use, together with other ARVs, to keep the virus in their bodies from making copies of itself. When such medicine is used to prevent HIV infection — that is, if it is taken before exposure to HIV — it is called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP and thus plays an important role in preventing HIV infection. 

A bold step in the fight against HIV

Apretude 600mg/3ml injection is the first and only long-acting injectable PrEP for reducing the risk of getting HIV. This drug is a safe and highly effective prevention option for people at substantial risk of HIV infection. HIV prevention efforts have stalled, with 1.5 million new HIV infections in 2021, as indicated by the World Health Organization. Having such options will go a long way in reducing the rate of new infections. 

“SAHPRA joins the global fight against this disease. The priority review pathway followed to assess and finally register long-acting Cabotegravir marks a bold step in this direction,” indicates SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela.