Exciting Development In HIV Prevention

We’re excited to share some groundbreaking news in the fight against HIV. Recent research has confirmed that long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a highly effective HIV prevention method, is safe for use both before and during pregnancy. This is a major breakthrough, especially for women who are at a higher risk of acquiring HIV during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Convenient protection

CAB-LA is a convenient HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option that’s administered via injection every two months—no daily pills required! But until now, there’s been limited data on its safety for pregnant women. That’s why the results of a global study involving over 300 pregnancies are so significant. The study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has shown that CAB-LA is a safe option for women during the entire reproductive period.

Expert insights

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), summed it up: “Cisgender women experience biological changes and social dynamics that can increase their likelihood of acquiring HIV during pregnancy and the postnatal period, and we need to offer them evidence-based options when they may need them most. This data provides reassurance about long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention during pregnancy.”

Study findings

So, what did the study find? Researchers monitored the health of both moms and babies closely, looking out for any potential issues. The good news is that pregnancy outcomes and infant health were similar whether participants used CAB-LA, had used it before pregnancy, or didn’t use it at all. In other words, CAB-LA was just as safe as not using it, with no increase in complications.

Global impact

Dr. Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, a key researcher on the study, explained the impact: “The overlap between high HIV incidence and the specific risks that cisgender pregnant women face in acquiring HIV in many countries calls for diverse and highly effective PrEP options as part of sexual and reproductive health approaches. We hope that these findings can fill an important knowledge gap that can help increase access to this highly effective HIV PrEP option among cisgender women before, during, and after pregnancy.”

This research was a collaborative effort funded by the NIH, ViiV Healthcare, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.